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CAROLINA PANTHERS
In an article published Tuesday, Winston-Salem Journal reporter Joe Menzer noted that despite head coach John Fox's professed disdain for statistics, there is a mountain of statistical evidence illustrating that his team's success on offense rides as much on the arm of Jake Delhomme as the legs of running back Stephen Davis.
Delhomme was up to the challenge in last Saturday's first-round thrashing of the Cowboys, when he completed 18 of 29 passes for 273 yards and one touchdown. His quarterback rating was a crisp 104.2.
"It was by far the biggest game of my life and my career," Delhomme admitted.
It was the sixth time in the last nine games -- beginning at the halfway point of the regular season -- that Delhomme has passed for more than 200 yards. He is averaging 221.2 yards per game over that span, an impressive figure for a team that so emphasized the run and so distrusted its own passing attack earlier in the year that it averaged nearly 60 yards less per game over the first half of the season.
"I said then that we would have to improve the efficiency of our passing game over the latter part of the season if we were going to have a chance to get to where we want to go," Fox said. "I think we have come a long way."
Even though Muhsin Muhammad said that he and fellow wideout Steve Smith have been lobbying the coaching staff to place more of an emphasis on the passing game, Fox contends that the game plan hasn't changed all that much from earlier in the year.
It's just that the same plays that were being called then are being executed better now, Fox said.
"We weren't that much more conservative earlier in the year, but I think we have grown as an offense," Fox said.
Muhammad, however, insisted that the coaching staff trusts Delhomme to make the throws and the receivers to make the catches much more than they did earlier in the year.
That could be partly because Muhammad and others simply aren't dropping as many balls as they did, but Muhammad said that the mutual trust developed out of necessity; when Davis was banged up down the December stretch of schedule in the regular season, the Panthers were forced to throw more often.
The results have been impressive. In the win over Dallas, both Muhammad (four catches for 103 yards) and Smith (five for 135) racked up more than 100 yards receiving.
"I think the last couple of weeks we went against our tendencies, and the coaches felt comfortable with it," Muhammad said. "They saw that Steve and I can make plays in the passing game. We've been pitching for that all year long.
"But when you have a good thing going, you let it ride. And Stephen Davis has been playing some great ball. With us now coming off strong in this playoff run, I think we will be more versatile and much harder for opposing defenses to stop."
Typically, Delhomme deflected credit for the improved state of the passing game in general and for his highly effective play against the Cowboys in particular.
"You can't say enough about the offensive line. Stephen rushed for over 100 (yards) and they gave me unbelievable protection all night long," Delhomme said. "Then the receivers made plays."
Yet, Delhomme hinted that the game plan was souped up at least just a little to highlight the improved passing attack.
"I think our coaches had the best game plan, as far as passing-wise, that we had all season long," Delhomme said. "They came up with some good things, and they did a good job of giving us opportunities to take advantage of certain coverages. It all goes back to the receivers making plays."
Safety Darren Woodson of the Cowboys told Menzer that the Panthers' receivers are underrated.
"You have to give those guys credit," Woodson said. "Steve Smith and Muhammad both played great games. I don't think they get enough credit."
Then again, someone has to put the ball in their hands. And Delhomme has done that more effectively as the season has progressed, completing 61 percent of his passes in the last nine games for 12 touchdowns while throwing one interception or less in six of his last seven outings.
For all the talk of the Rams' quick-strike offense, Delhomme compares favorably over the last half of the season with St. Louis quarterback Mark Bulger. Since the halfway point of the regular season, Bulger has passed for 10 touchdowns against 13 interceptions, while Delhomme has passed for 12 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. The two finished the regular season with nearly identical quarterback ratings -- 81.4 for Bulger to 80.6 for Delhomme.
But according to Menzer, perhaps the greatest statistical evidence for the Panthers' improved passing game lies in the number of big plays it has produced in the second half of the season. In the first eight games, Delhomme completed passes of 20 yards or more just 15 times; in the last nine, he has hooked up with his receivers for 35 such plays, including four last Saturday against Dallas.
"We want to run the ball. I think that is our blueprint for success and we do that pretty well," Delhomme said. "I'm starting to get a little more comfortable with the receivers. The line is doing a good job. I'm just trying to be smart with the football and not turn it over."
As Menzer summed up: "Since mid-season, he has been doing a whole lot more than that."
All that said, Davis will still have be a major factor if the Panthers hope to knock off St. Louis in the divisional playoffs this Saturday, they'll need to keep the Rams' high-powered offense off the field and they have to do that by running the football. ...
It's also worth noting that Smith is eager to prove he belongs on the same field as current All-Pro receiver Torry Holt and former All-Pro Isaac Bruce.
"Everybody's talking like they've got two legs and we've only got one," Smith said. "We'll be fine on Saturday night. ..."
I couldn't agree more.
Other notes of interest. ...
In a column published Tuesday night, FOX Sports insider John Czarnecki advised readers that team officials realize they'll have to show Smith the money this offseason. Czarnecki added: "Give credit to Richard Williamson, one of the game's finest receiver coaches, for drastically improving Smith's receiving skills. ...
Delhomme admits he'll be picking veteran receiver Ricky Proehl's brain this week. Proehl signed with the Panthers as a free agent last off-season after five seasons with the Rams.
"I'm sure we're going to lean a lot on Ricky Proehl a lot this week. He's got probably the most experience of our guys, plus he spent a lot of time with them in St. Louis," Delhomme said. ...
John Kasay's five field goals tied an NFL playoff record and matched his personal best. Kasay, who along with Muhammad are the only two current Panthers to appear in both of Carolina's playoff victories against Dallas, had four field goals in the 26-17 victory following the 1996 season, giving him nine in two postseason games against Dallas. ...
As reported by Charlotte Observer staffer Rick Bonnell, Fox shared an office with current Rams head coach Mike Martz in the fall of 1996, when Fox was serving as a consultant to the Rams. Fox took that assignment after resigning as an Oakland Raiders assistant.
"John had just gone through kind of a difficult experience in Oakland," Martz recalled Tuesday.
"I think (consulting) was good in that what he went through was very stressful. I think we've all been through those situations. I can't speak for John, but normally in those situations you get a chance to sit back and reevaluate things and get your priorities squared away, and then take another run. ..."
And finally. ...
According to Pro Football Weekly, Fox and general manager Marty Hurney believe the team is a year ahead of where they thought it would be when the 2003 season kicked off. In other words, they never expected a division title could come so quickly.
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THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT:
Questionable: TE Marco Battaglia (quadricep); S Jarrod Cooper (hamstring)
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DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT:
QB: Jake Delhomme, Rodney Peete, Chris Weinke
RB: Stephen Davis, DeShaun Foster, Rod Smart
FB: Brad Hoover, Nick Goings
WR: Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, Ricky Proehl, Kevin Dyson, Karl Hankton, Eugene Baker
TE: Kris Mangum, Jermaine Wiggins, Marco Battaglia
PK: John Kasay
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GREEN BAY PACKERS
In an article published Monday, Green Bay News-Chronicle staffer Tim Froberg reminded us that on a day in which Ahman Green did only minimal damage to the Seahawks with 66 rushing yards, Brett Favre picked up the offense with a crisp performance in last Sunday's 33-27 NFC wild-card overtime win over Seattle.
A sharp Favre made the Seahawks pay for their heavy attention on Green. In raising his Lambeau Field playoff record to 6-1, Favre completed 26 of 38 passes for 319 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a stellar efficiency rating of 102.9.
It was Favre's second-highest yardage total of the year -- eclipsed only by his 399-yard explosion against Oakland -- and marked only the second time this season he has thrown for more than 300 yards.
Of course, games in which Favre has thrown for 300-plus yards used to be no big deal. And according to Froberg, that's how he saw his fine performance Sunday -- no big deal.
"I don't know if it was my best game, but it was a win and I felt like I did what I had to do and made a few plays," said Favre. "That's what I'm paid to do."
Due primarily to the redesign of the Packers' offense, which places a greater emphasis on the run than the pass, Favre's yardage totals have declined this season. While he led the NFL in touchdown passes with 32 and matched his 2002-03 mark for scoring tosses, Favre's 3,361 passing yards were his fewest since his 1993 season in Green Bay, when he threw for 3,303 yards. His 471 passing attempts were his fewest since 1992, his first season as the Packers' starting quarterback.
Favre, though, made it obvious last month that he's still got it, and the trend continued at the start of January. He sprayed the ball to nine receivers, and outplayed Seattle's emerging Matt Hasselbeck by triggering a Green Bay offense that generated 397 yards. Javon Walker, who continues to develop as Favre's top big-play target, led the way with 111 receiving yards on five receptions, while flanker Donald Driver had a team-high six receptions for 66 yards.
"If teams are going to put eight or nine guys in the box, I wouldn't want to match up against Brett and our receivers," said left guard Mike Wahle. "Those guys are really stepping up and making plays. That's what has been going on in our offense the past month and a half."
Favre knew all along that it would be just a matter of time before the passing game would have to pick things up for a stalled running game. In Green Bay's 35-13 win over Seattle on Oct. 5 at Lambeau Field, Favre threw for an ordinary 185 yards while Green Bay's running game had a big day with 159 yards. Determined to avoid an instant replay of that game, the Seahawks focused on run defense last Sunday.
"I've said all year that at some point we're going to have to adjust," said Favre. "I'm sure Seattle's mentality was to stop the run. [Green] had 220 yards last week and they were determined to stop him."
Offensive coordinator Tom Rossley has received some flak this season for his playcalling, but Green Bay has better offensive balance this season than it has in any of Favre's previous 12 years in Green Bay. On Sunday, Rossley called 38 passing plays to 32 rushes.
"I thought [Rossley] did a great job," said Favre. "He's caught some heat, but we all need to be held accountable at times and he stepped up to the plate today as he's done all year. Our production on offense has been off the charts. For us to have Ahman rush for 1,800 yards and for me to lead the league in touchdown passes, that says a lot."
Favre's only touchdown pass Sunday was a 23-yard, second-quarter strike to tight end Bubba Franks on a play in which Franks adjusted on the fly and cut down the middle of the field to find a wide-open lane to the end zone. "That started out as a corner route and Bubba adjusted and I adjusted to him, and we made a play," said Favre. "That's what it's all about. You draw all these plays up and you never get exactly what you study. But it's all about how you adjust. ..."
For what it's worth, Favre practiced all last week without a splint that he used for more than two months to protect his broken right thumb. On game day, however, he went back to the splint. "I didn't want to get tackled or rolling out and, knowing that it was cold, get it banged and worry about it and change the way I play," he said. "I just wanted to let it go."
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THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT:
Doubtful: LB Marcus Wilkins (calf)
Questionable: DT Gilbert Brown (knee); DE Chukie Nwokorie (wrist)
Probable: T Chad Clifton (illness); QB Brett Favre (thumb); WR Javon Walker (shoulder)
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DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT:
QB: Brett Favre, Doug Pederson, Craig Nall
RB: Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, Tony Fisher
FB: William Henderson, Nicolas Luchey
WR: Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson, Javon Walker, Antonio Freeman, Antonio Chatman
TE: Bubba Franks, Wesley Walls, David Martin
PK: Ryan Longwell
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INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
According to Indianapolis Star News beat man Mike Chappell, when Jim Irsay closed his eyes Sunday evening, he saw San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young carving up the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.
When the Colts' owner opened them, he saw Peyton Manning slicing up the Denver Broncos in a first-round playoff game.
"You look for performances like this," Irsay said after watching Manning look every bit the NFL's co-MVP in the Colts' 41-10 obliteration of the Broncos.
"You look for your best players to play their best in big games."
Irsay's mind wandered to that Super Bowl in Miami. Young put on a performance for the ages, passing for 325 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-26 blowout.
With the pressure of having lost his only three playoff appearances on his shoulders, Manning was better than Young.
In fact, he was perfect.
For the second time this season and the fourth time in his career, Manning compiled a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating. It marked just the fourth perfect game in the NFL's postseason, the first since Seattle's Dave Kreig in a 1983 AFC wild-card game against Denver.
Facing the league's No. 4-ranked defense and one that limited the Colts to 183 total yards in a 31-17 loss two weeks ago, Manning was in a zone all his own. He completed 22-of-26 passes (84.6 percent) for 377 yards and five TDs, then sat out the game's final 13 minutes.
The five TD passes were one short of the NFL postseason record, and allowed him to become the first player in league history to throw for at least five TDs in three games in one season, including the playoffs.
His touchdowns, yards and completion percentage were franchise playoff records.
"What a performance he had," Irsay said. "It doesn't get much better than that."
Head coach Tony Dungy didn't argue the point.
"Playing against a defense of this caliber, that was a great performance," he said.
Manning conceded it was a relief to finally get that elusive first postseason victory. "Sure, it's good to get that little monkey off my back," he said.
Or as Chappell more aptly put it, the monkey "was unceremoniously discarded as the Colts made some adjustments -- some subtle, some significant -- from their humbling loss two weeks ago."
They made a switch on the offensive line, moving starting center Jeff Saturday to right guard and having Tupe Peko make his first career start at center. That reinforced the interior of Manning's protection.
They came out in a two-tight end formation, then liberally sprinkled in three- and four-wide receiver sets. On a few occasions, Manning worked out of a two-back set.
They played at a much quicker tempo, which kept the Broncos from adjusting to Manning's pre-snap checks.
And they followed Manning's lead.
"He was more under control, so cool," running back Edgerrin James said.
Prior to the game, James approached Manning and told him the game was in Manning's hands. Make the calls. Make your checks if you don't like the play you've called. Run the offense.
"I told him, 'Pey, if you see something you don't feel comfortable with, don't do it,'" James said. "I wanted him to know that whatever he called, we were going to support him."
Manning completed his first five passes for 71 yards and a 31-yard touchdown to Brandon Stokley. After a miss, there was another string of 11 consecutive completions that produced 257 yards, TDs to Marvin Harrison (46 and 23 yards) and Stokley (87 yards) and a 31-3 halftime lead.
Two weeks ago against the Broncos, Manning and the offense were on the field for just 37 plays and less than 15 minutes. In the rematch, they made up for lost time.
"Last time, we didn't play a whole lot, so they didn't really get to see us," Manning said. "It's one of those days where everything seemed to go right. ..."
Also of interest. ...
Stokley, an unrestricted free agent from Baltimore who signed with Indy last March, was hampered by an array of injuries (foot, hamstring, concussion) that kept him from becoming a full contributor to the offense until late this season.
But over the last four weeks, Stokley has gradually worked his way into becoming a reliable third and sometimes second option in the Colts' passing attack. He had seven catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-7 win over Atlanta and nine receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 road victory against Houston.
According to the Sports XChange, however, it was his four receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns -- including a game-breaking 87-yard scoring catch and run -- against Denver that really opened a lot of eyes.
"I feel real comfortable [in the Colts' offense]), but I'm still trying to get better in practice and get comfortable with the little things that make this offense click," he said. "It's been great. Peyton does a great job of hitting me in stride. Every throw makes it so easy for me."
And as Associated Press sports writer Michael Marot suggested Tuesday, Manning seems to have gained confidence in him since -- and Stokley is taking advantage of his opportunities, especially when opponents double-cover Harrison or try take away the Colts' other big-play performers.
But Stokley isn't just helping on the field.
He's one of only two Colts with a Super Bowl ring. The only other player, Detron Smith, is on injured reserve. In the locker room, Stokley has been giving his teammates advice.
"It helps having been there, knowing what it takes to get there," he said. "But you still have to go out and play."
Until Sunday, Stokley and Smith were two of the few Colts who had even won a playoff game.
"He's telling them what it means, that you can't count on having very many chances," Dungy said. "Brandon's attitude is 'Let's go get this one because you don't know when it's going to come around again. ..."'
For what it's worth. ... Stokley rolled his right ankle in the Denver game but should be okay to play at Kansas City. ...
But it does bring up questions surrounding his durability, an issue ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli recently highlighted with the following quote by unnamed NFL personnel man: "Stokley has given the Colts a solid No. 3 guy and you can tell that Manning, who has worked with Stokley at his passing school in Louisiana, likes throwing to the guy.
"The only thing with Stokley is, every time he catches a ball, you hold your breath to see if he's going to get up. It seems like the guy is always hurt. But if he can stay together, he can be a factor for the Colts in the playoffs. Remember, back in 2000, when Stokley was in Baltimore, he was big in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. ..."
And a few final items this week. ...
Already named NFL co-MVP, Manning won player of the year honors Tuesday from the Maxwell Football Club.
Manning, who shared the Associated Press MVP honors with Tennessee's Steve McNair, received 293 first-place votes to win the Bert Bell trophy. The Indianapolis Colts' star quarterback, who won the Maxwell Award as college player of the year in 1997, also received 187 second-place votes and 89 third-place votes.
Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis was second and McNair was third.
Voters for the pro awards are NFL owners, football personnel, head coaches, and offensive and defensive coordinators, as well as members of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Maxwell Football Club. ...
And as Sports Illustrated insider Peter King reminded readers on Monday: "Manning joined a 3-13 team in 1998 and this has been his average season as a pro: nine wins, 4,147 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, .629 completion percentage."
And finally. ...
In an article published Monday, Pro Football Weekly suggested that having played in offensive coordinator Tom Moore’s offense under Bruce Arians in Cleveland, the Colts would have some interest in bringing in current Brown and former Colt Kelly Holcomb as a backup to Manning.
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THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT:
Out: TE Dallas Clark (ankle)
Questionable: S Cory Bird (leg/shoulder); S Mike Doss (ankle); CB Donald Strickland (knee)
Probable: S Idrees Bashir (shoulder/upper arm); CB Nick Harper (low back/thigh); CB Walt Harris (knee); LB Jim Nelson (collarbone); RB Dominic Rhodes (knee/shoulder); WR Brandon Stokley (ankle); LB David Thornton (ankle)
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DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT:
QB: Peyton Manning, Brock Huard
RB: Edgerrin James, Dominic Rhodes, Ricky Williams
FB: Tom Lopienski
WR: Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley, Troy Walters, Aaron Moorehead, Terrence Wilkins, JaJuan Dawson
TE: Marcus Pollard, Joe Dean Davenport, Pete Mitchell, Dallas Clark
PK: Mike Vanderjagt
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
According to Kansas City Star beat man Adam Teicher, the team needs at least two takeaways against the Colts this weekend. Otherwise, it could be a long day because the Chiefs aren't strong enough defensively to consistently get the Colts off the field.
Teicher went on to suggest the offense needs to take advantage of a Colts defense that has not been strong in the red zone.
The Chiefs were the NFL's most efficient red zone team because Priest Holmes and the blocking unit work so well together and Tony Gonzalez is so difficult to match up against in the end zone.
And as Star staffer Ivan Carter pointed out Monday, much like the Chiefs, the Colts are not particularly big defensively but can run. While some teams had success running right at the Colts, few excelled running outside which is something the Chiefs do very well.
All of which means one of the game's key matchups will play out up front where Chiefs' Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf will tangle with Colts' Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney.
The 6-foot-1, 268 pound Freeney led the Colts with 11 sacks this season and has drawn comparisons with former Chiefs great Derrick Thomas because of his ability to turn the corner as a speed rusher.
Carter went on to point out that Indianapolis was 7-1 in road games this season with crucial wins coming at Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Houston. However, playoff history suggests that the Chiefs should have a major advantage in playing at Arrowhead, and it has nothing to do a 13-game home winning streak.
Dome teams are 11-32 in outdoor road playoff games, and no dome team has advanced to the Super Bowl without winning an outdoor road game. Since the franchise moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984, the Colts are 2-5 in road playoff games.
Other notes of interest. ...
Asked early this week whether his team needs to run the ball more to keep it away from the potent Colts, head coach Dick Vermeil replied:
"Regardless of how you do it, (the Chiefs have to) stay on the field. The first thing you do is try to keep your third and longs to a minimum. You do that with a short passing game and a good solid running game. ...
"We're not a team that is just going to line up and say, ‘We're going to beat you running.' That's not our style of football. We're the No. 1 scoring team in the National Football League because of how we do it. ..."
For what it's worth, Teicher believes Vermeil's announcement that he will return for another year should give the team an emotional lift. Uncertainty over his future had been a distraction. That's no longer the case.
One last note here. ...
According to Pro Football Weekly, Trent Green's selection as the Chiefs’ MVP was seen as a real tribute to how the team has rallied around his return from major knee surgery and his ascension as a top quarterback and leader.
Green, described as "our heart and soul" by defensive end Eric Hicks, led the Chiefs to an NFL-best 484 points.
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THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT:
Doubtful: LB Mike Maslowski (knee)
Questionable: LB Monty Beisel (groin)
Probable: RB Derrick Blaylock (ankle); LB Fred Jones (foot)
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DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT:
QB: Trent Green, Todd Collins, Jonathan Quinn
RB: Priest Holmes, Derrick Blaylock, Larry Johnson
FB: Tony Richardson, Omar Easy
WR: Eddie Kennison, Johnnie Morton, Dante Hall, LaShaun Ward, Marc Boerigter
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Jason Dunn, Billy Baber
PK: Morten Andersen
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NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
According to Boston Herald beat man Michael Felger, if Tom Brady is indeed the top pressure player in the NFL, then he knows now is the time to prove it.
"These are the type of weeks that in February, March and April you think about," Brady told Felger Tuesday. "What greater opportunity could you ever have than to be a starting quarterback in this game?"
Brady's record in tight games has been well-documented. The 2002 Super Bowl MVP is undefeated in the playoffs (3-0). He's undefeated in overtime (7-0). He's lost only one game decided by fewer than seven points (13-1).
Those numbers will be on the line Saturday, when the Pats figure to rely heavily on Brady in their divisional playoff game against Tennessee. The Titans are 30th in the league against the pass, and no one will be surprised if the Pats try to neutralize their physical front seven by spreading the field and going to the air.
Brady said he will rely on his past playoff experience.
"There's no doubt that it's a different level. Much more focused. Much more intense," he explained. "I think I learned that the first week (in 2001), and then playing Pittsburgh, that was a great experience, to go into another stadium like that. And then obviously the Super Bowl. It gives you confidence that you can go out and do a good job. The only way you can get used to it is doing it."
According to an upcoming story on Brady in ESPN the Magazine, he's been so confident that "he's been telling his teammates, `We won't lose again.' " (The story also says that, in 2002, Brady first suffered a first-degree separation in Tennessee on Dec. 16, two weeks prior to being told that he had a second-degree separation after the season finale against Miami).
As for the here and now, Brady is healthy, confident and ready for action. Just like his teammates.
"Sometimes over the course of the year, guys lose focus," he said. "You become distracted, and for a lot of good reasons. But now, it's the No. 1 priority. It's going to be fun to lead the guys out there on Saturday night."
Added head coach Bill Belichick: "Pressure doesn't really bother him. I think he's pretty much unaffected -- by the score, the situation, the field position, the crowd noise, what happened the play before. I think he has an ability to put those behind him and focus on the play in front of him. ..."
Other notes of interest. ...
Tennessee ranked first in the league in run defense this year, allowing 80.9 yards per game, and is coming off a wild-card win at Baltimore in which Jamal Lewis gained 35 yards. But the Patriots amassed a season-high 161 rushing yards in a Week 5 against the Titans.
The question is how?
According to Boston Globe staffer Michael Smith, there's a reason: "Several Titans defenders were missing."
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (6 feet 6 inches, 320 pounds) missed his third straight game with illness and a partially dislocated elbow. The Patriots anticipated end Kevin Carter playing inside in Haynesworth's place. Carter inside usually creates a favorable matchup for Tennessee in passing situations, when quickness often prevails. Power comes into play more in the running game. New England was able to overpower Carter.
Linebacker Peter Sirmon, Tennessee's No. 2 tackler, missed the game with fractured bones in his back. When the Patriots went to three receivers, forcing the Titans to go to their nickel defense, that left second-year man Rocky Boiman manning the middle and Pro Bowler Keith Bullock playing out of position. Mismatch. New England gained most of its yards off counters, draws, and dives out of its one-back, three-receiver formation.
The Patriots haven't run that well since, nor have the Titans been as bad at defending the run. Only two of Tennessee's next 12 opponents cracked the 100-yard mark (though five averaged 4.4 yards per carry or more).
"They ran the ball well against us, which was embarrassing when we looked at the tape," said Titans head coach Jeff Fisher. "We've corrected those things since then."
Beginning with tackling. The Titans missed 14 on defense and another eight on special teams in the October game. The next week, Fisher put them through one-on-one, training-camp-style drills.
"Some of those plays were circumstantial," Belichick said. "I think anytime you get through the line of scrimmage and the back breaks a couple of tackles, you get a long run and that piles up. That's where most of it came. I would say most of our yardage came on a few plays. There were plenty of plays there that didn't look all that hot."
Antowain Smith had carries of 19, 14 and 10 yards, Mike Cloud runs of 17, 42 and 15. That left 44 yards divided among 21 other carries.
"From game to game you never know what's going to happen," said Belichick. "Look at Baltimore. They're one of the better run defenses in the league, and they gave up whatever it was, 160-something yards to the Titans."
In a semi-related note. ...
According to the Sporting News, the temperature is supposed to be in the single digits for the Patriots- Titans game on Saturday night. One would think that means more running for the Patriots, but it's doubtful. The team will likely continue to use Smith more than Kevin Faulk in cold-weather situations.
The team will also use quick passes to their wideouts as a supplemental short-yardage game. ...
Also according to Felger, Belichick and the Patriots were perfectly content with the condition of their soft, muddy and chewed-up field at Gillette Stadium.
It turns out the NFL wasn't as thrilled with it.
And what the league wants, the league gets. In this case, that meant a brand new playing surface in Foxboro for the Pats' divisional playoff game against Tennessee on Saturday night.
The Pats had the entire field resodded, not just the area between the numbers as is usually the case. Crews completed the work Sunday.
While spokesmen for the Pats and the NFL said the decision to redo the field was a mutual one between the team and the league, sources confirmed that the NFL mandated the move.
If it were up to Belichick and the rest of the organization, the original field would have remained in place. Belichick held a final practice in the stadium last Wednesday before excusing his players for the weekend.
"We work together with teams throughout the season on this kind of thing," league spokesman Greg Aiello said. "It was a mutual decision. We do it all the time. It's a common procedure."
The Pats were happy with the muddy track for several reasons, primarily because they were used to it and other teams weren't. The Pats went 10-0 (including two preseason wins) on the surface in 2003. The Pats were well aware of the fact that the soft track helped neutralize faster players on opposing teams.
While the new surface should be an upgrade, it will still be far from perfect given the time of year and freshness of the sod.
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THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT:
Report no injuries
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DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT:
QB: Tom Brady, Damon Huard, Rohan Davey
RB: Kevin Faulk, Antowain Smith, Mike Cloud
FB: Larry Centers, Patrick Pass
WR: Deion Branch, David Givens, Troy Brown, Bethel Johnson, Dedric Ward
TE: Christian Fauria, Daniel Graham, Fred Baxter
PK: Adam Vinatieri
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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
In an article published Tuesday, Trenton Times staff writer Mark Eckel advised readers: "There is no more holding out hope for some kind of medical miracle."
Brian Westbrook underwent surgery Tuesday to repair the torn triceps injury he suffered in the team's season-ending win over Washington.
Westbrook flew to Birmingham, Ala., Monday and met with renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery.
"We feel for Brian and all the hard work he did," head coach Andy Reid said. "We're fortunate to have other good backs and return men on our team."
Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter will get more work in the backfield, and Reno Mahe will take over for Westbrook on punt returns.
Despite missing two full games (and most of a third) with a badly sprained ankle, Westbrook led the team in rushing this season with 613 yards. He was second on the team in receptions with 37 for another 332 yards and also led the team with 13 touchdowns, including two on punt returns where he averaged an NFC-best 15.3.
But Westbrook's injury isn't the end of the world. ...
Buckhalter came on strong during the above-mentioned absence, racking up more than 200 yards rushing and scoring twice with Westbrook watching from the sidelines. And Donovan McNabb threw for 312 yards and a touchdown (minus Westbrook) against the Falcons in Week 9, compiling a passer rating of 104.6 along the way. ...
Also of interest. ...
McNabb was named Offensive MVP, and in a bit of a surprise Sean Morey was named Special Teams MVP.
McNabb won the award for the third time. He also won in 2000 and 2001. He becomes just the third Eagle to win the award three times, since its inception in 1984. Quarterback Randall Cunningham won four times (1987-89, 91) and Staley won three times (1998-99, 02).
And as Eckel suggested Tuesday, if the Eagles have an answer for the magic of the Green Bay Packers, it comes in the form of a 6-foot-2, 240-pound man wearing a 5 on his back.
McNabb agreed.
"That's the way I look at it, too," the veteran signal caller explained. "I have to come out and play my best game I can in order for us to get to where we want to be. That's the challenge I always put on myself."
Sunday will be McNabb's eighth playoff game over the past four years, or since he's been the Eagles starting quarterback. He's had three games in which his quarterback rating was over 90, one where it was over 100, one where it just missed 90, and three where it was under 75 and two under 60.
The Eagles lost all three games in which McNabb's rating was under 75.
"In the playoffs you go as far as your quarterback takes you," teammate Troy Vincent said. "Don's healthy and we all know what he can do when he's healthy. Some times, you just can't stop him.
"When I was in Miami, coach [Don] Shula always told us we have a 70 percent chance to win because we have Dan [Marino] under center. The other 30 percent was up to the rest of us. I don't know if after just five years I can put Donovan in the same place as Dan, but he is that good. He can certainly take us there."
McNabb has taken the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game the past two years, and failed once he got there.
This year he knows that's not enough.
In his first go-round in the playoffs, McNabb was efficient in a win over Tampa Bay, completing 72.7 percent of his passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-3 win over the Bucs. His rating for that game was 90.6. The following week against the Giants, he completed just 48 percent of his passes, was sacked six times and was victimized by one of the greatest postseason interceptions when Jason Sehorn made a diving catch along the right sideline, got up and returned the interception for a touchdown.
The following year he again exposed the Bucs defense with a 97.8 rating and beat his home-town Bears with a career-high 262 playoff passing yards and two touchdowns. Then he lost in St. Louis when Aeneas Williams picked off his final pass of the game.
Last year, after coming back from the broken ankle, he put up his best playoff rating with a 103.1 against Atlanta, and then his lowest with a 58.5 rating against the Tampa Bay team he had beaten the past two years.
"He's our leader," Staley said. "And in the big games, you need your leaders to make big plays. We feel good with Donovan on our side."
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THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT:
Probable: CB Troy Vincent (hip)
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DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT:
QB: Donovan McNabb, Koy Detmer, A.J. Feeley
RB: Correll Buckhalter, Duce Staley, Reno Mahe, Brian Westbrook
FB: Jon Ritchie
WR: Todd Pinkston, James Thrash, Freddie Mitchell, Greg Lewis, Billy McMullen
TE: L.J. Smith, Chad Lewis
PK: David Akers
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ST. LOUIS RAMS
According to Associated Press sports writer R.B. Fallstrom, the Rams are ready to put their loss to the Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale behind them.
"We knew we let a lot of people down by performing the way we did," receiver Dane Looker said. "I think we're really eager to come back and redeem ourselves."
The NFC West champions got a week to mull over the 30-20 loss that took away a chance at home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. They returned to work refreshed for a practice walkthrough Monday, determined to show they're better than they appeared when they were shut out in the second half by a team that finished 5-11.
"Especially watching those first-round playoff games, it gets you amped up and excited just knowing what the atmosphere is going to be like in the dome," Looker said.
The Rams enter Saturday's second-round playoff game against the Panthers with a 14-game winning streak at home. They were 8-0 in the Edward Jones Dome this year, their second unbeaten season at home since they moved to St. Louis in 1995.
Players would much rather remember that than the Detroit loss, which ended a seven-game winning streak.
"You can't hang on to those games," offensive tackle Kyle Turley said. "We've got a bye week so that's two weeks of criticism, but hopefully most of the guys are like me and they don't read the papers and they don't watch the news outside of national publications.
"So you don't really hear about the negativity too much, but you put it behind you as fast as you can and move on."
The loss could potentially end up as a positive, serving as a wakeup call.
"We were on a long win streak and I think personally this could be a benefit to us," Turley said. "It's a bit of a gut check to us, and everybody is kind of looking at themselves in the mirror."
The Rams know other teams are looking at them, too, and thinking they're vulnerable.
"We're such a good team and we hold ourselves to such a higher standard than that, to go out there and play the way we did it's unacceptable to this team," Looker said. "What bugs you is you know teams are watching the tape and thinking `The Rams are not that great.'
"You want to prove to the NFC and the league that you're a team to be reckoned with."
After the bye week, regardless of how they finished the regular season, players are eager for some action -- and based on Carolina's effort against the Cowboys last Saturday -- the Rams are going to get plenty of it this weekend.
And it's not hard to find those wondering if the Rams are tough enough to handle the Panthers and in particular, their tough, tenacious and surprisingly athletic front four.
As St. Louis Post-Dispatch online columnist Jeff Gordon suggested Monday: "This game will test the Rams' toughness on every front."
Starting with the offensive line -- a well paid, highly experienced unit that has played inconsistently all season. A unit that also struggled to sustain their run blocks against the Lions.
They also appeared to be baffled by the Lions blitzes. Marshall Faulk had nowhere to run in Detroit and quarterback Marc Bulger nearly got killed. According to Pro Football Weekly, the two Detroit sacks that led to fumbles were the result of missed blocks by tight ends Brandon Manumaleuna and Cam Cleeland.
Since Ernie Conwell’s departure via free agency, the Rams’ blocking at the position has left a lot to be desired, especially Manumaleuna’s.
Gordon went on to suggest the Rams must pound the ball against the Panthers, establishing Faulk early. They must give Bulger ample time to retain his passing rhythm. And they must certainly avoid the total breakdowns that doomed them in Detroit.
As ESPN's John Clayton put it: "Clearly, the Panthers have the best young defensive front seven in the NFL and perhaps the best defensive line, featuring Julius Peppers, Kris Jenkins and Mike Rucker. The key for the Rams is their max protection package.
"Tackles Orlando Pace and Kyle Turley match up well against Peppers and Rucker. If Mike Martz -- as he does so often with Marc Bulger at quarterback -- keeps in an extra blocker or two, receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce will have a chance to work on cornerbacks Reggie Howard, Terry Cousin and Ricky Manning Jr." None of which matters a bit unless Bulger plays better than he did against the Lions.
According to Gordon, team officials are hoping his breakdown against the Lions was not a signature performance. That game had serious playoff implications and Bulger unraveled in the second half.
The Panthers will conjure up some new ways to apply pressure on him. Saturday will be a critical day in this young man's career.
There is only one way to push all the Kurt Warner talk aside: Lead the Rams on another championship march, just as Warner did. That means he'll have to stand in against a ferocious, championship-caliber defense -- just as Warner did -- and deliver a big-game victory.
And finally. ...
Also according to Fallstrom, Bruce is expected to be at full strength for Saturday's playoff game after missing most of the last two regular-season games with a sprained left ankle.
The injury kept Bruce from a fifth straight 1,000-yard receiving year. He finished with 69 catches for 981 yards, second on the team behind All-Pro Holt.
But he was at full speed Tuesday as the Rams returned to practice in preparation for the Panthers.
"He's fine, he didn't skip a beat," Martz said. "He's 100 percent."
The return of Bruce should open things up more for Holt, the NFL's leading receiver with 117 catches for 1,696 yards and 12 touchdowns. Holt had 10 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in Game 15 against the Bengals, but was held to five catches for 54 yards in the regular-season finale against the Lions.
Bruce was inactive for the Bengals game and played briefly against Detroit.
"When you have Isaac and Torry and you get into those one-on-one matchups, the capabilities of what you can do in the passing game are pretty awesome," Martz said. "To have him out there now, you know he's going to win on those routes and that's so important to what we do."
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THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT:
Probable: LB Robert Thomas (groin)
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DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT:
QB: Marc Bulger, Kurt Warner, Scott Covington
RB: Marshall Faulk, Lamar Gordon, Arlen Harris
HB: Joey Goodspeed, Spencer Nead
WR: Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Dane Looker, Mike Furrey, Shaun McDonald, Kevin Curtis
TE: Brandon Manumaleuna, Cameron Cleeland, Dan Curley
PK: Jeff Wilkins
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TENNESSEE TITANS
According to Nashville Tennessean staff writer Jim Wyatt, head coach Jeff Fisher claimed on Monday that his team was more excited about last weekend's win over the Ravens in an AFC Wild Card game than it was after winning the AFC Championship game in '99. The latter victory, of course, sent the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV.
"I like the flow right now. This is going to be a great week," Fisher said. "I'm not concerned about being in a situation where this win took everything out of them. (The excitement) is going to take you a long ways."
This Saturday the Titans take their excitement back to Foxboro, Mass., to face the New England Patriots in an AFC Divisional playoff game. The Titans lost 38-30 at New England on Oct. 5.
The Patriots, the top seed in the AFC, had a bye last weekend.
The Divisional round winners meet in the AFC Championship game on Jan. 18 for the right to play in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston.
"The challenges are much different now than they were [last Saturday]," Fisher said. "There were some limitations in the Ravens' passing game. We felt like we had to make them throw it and shut the run game down to have a chance to win."
All in all, it was a fine tune-up.
"[The Baltimore win] was a perfect way for us to enter the playoffs. It was the perfect game for us to get the monkey off our back, shut up all the critics and shut down the stigma about us losing to the Ravens," defensive end Kevin Carter said. "But it's over, and we have to go on."
"We're going to use this as a springboard," tight end Frank Wycheck said. "The first (playoff game) is always the toughest one. ... We have the confidence to go into a tough place to play and win a game, pull it out."
Fisher said his team heads into the Divisional round in good shape physically and emotionally. The Titans beat the Ravens despite three interceptions from quarterback Steve McNair and inconsistency on offense.
In fact, the prognosis on the team's walking wounded was better than expected Sunday.
Eddie George, who played the second half with a dislocated left shoulder in a harness, had regained some movement in the joint.
George, who was held out of Tuesday's workout, had an MRI, which showed no significant damage to the shoulder, only swelling and some stretching of the ligaments.
"There’s not anything structurally wrong, which is good," Fisher said. "We’ll probably shut him down for a couple of days, rest him and try to treat it and try to get the swelling out of there and let it tighten up a little bit. And he’ll be ready to go with the harness this weekend."
Steve McNair, who also skipped Tuesday's practice, experienced some additional soreness in his right calf and left ankle, but did not sustain any further injury from the game.
"Steve was sore, but he really wasn’t too bad," Fisher said. "His calf was just a little sore, but he didn’t re-injure anything with the calf and the ankle. He had a little bit of swelling in the ankle. He should be OK. I would think he would practice. ..."
According to the Sporting News, receiver/returner Eddie Berlin missed practice on Tuesday because of post-concussion problems. Fisher says he hopes Berlin, who was inactive last weekend, gets a chance to practice before heading to New England. His availability appears questionable at best. ...
A couple of related notes. ...
In an article published Tuesday night, FOX Sports insider John Czarnecki suggested McNair has lost his long-range zip because he can't get his legs into his throws because of his injured lower legs.
Czarnecki added: "Most experts believe last Saturday's physical contest against the Baltimore Ravens has sapped the strength out of the Tennessee Titans and that they will be no match for New England. ..." For what it's worth, I don't necessarily agree with either contention. I tend to believe McNair and the Titans will give New England all they want.
Also of interest. ...
In an article published Tuesday, Nashvillecitypaper.com staff writer Terry McCormick suggested the running game Tennessee rediscovered in pushing the Ravens around might come in quite handy, if the Titans can come close to duplicating it this Saturday.
George ran for 88 yards despite his injured shoulder and Chris Brown added 61 yards on just 11 carries as part of a 165-yard rushing attack mounted against Baltimore.
"I think we surprised the National Football League overall with our ability to run the football against this defense," Fisher said. "That’s just a compliment to our offensive line and tight ends and receivers because they really buckled down and blocked well."
Chances are, the Titans will need some of that same formula this week against the Patriots, where the forecast in Foxboro obviously calls for cold, and the recipe for advancing in the postseason is usually tied to both running the football and stopping the run.
In their first meeting with the Patriots, the Titans were in the midst of their six-week spree of scoring 30 points or more a game, and were riding a sharp passing attack, despite their eventual 38-30 loss to New England.
Tennessee had just 70 yards rushing in that game, and running backs had just 45 yards, led by George’s 35.
The Titans run game came around at the right time against the Ravens, and offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said it was in part because of continued excellence by the offensive and improved running from George.
"I think our offensive line has been playing well for a while now. But [Saturday] was probably the best job of running Eddie has done this season," Heimerdinger said after the game.
Given that the Pats are No. 2 against the pass, but only 15th versus the run, the Titans might need more of the same to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive for another week. ...
According to the Sports XChange, Robert Holcombe is optimistic he will be able to return to action in New England. He's missed two games with a hamstring pull, and without him the Titans are a little more limited as he is the only running back who plays fullback for Tennessee.
Brown could lose some snaps if Holcombe returns. But Brown, a quiet guy who seems timid, was far from it in Baltimore. He opened eyes not only with his 5.5-yard average, but with a big, fearless block on Baltimore's Ray Lewis.
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THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT:
Questionable: LB Ken Amato (ankle/hamstring); WR Eddie Berlin (concussion); LB Rocky Calmus (leg); RB Eddie George (shoulder/ankle); RB Robert Holcombe (hamstring); QB Steve McNair (ankle/calf); CB Samari Rolle (concussion); WR Jake Schifino (leg)
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DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT:
QB: Steve McNair, Neil O'Donnell, Jason Gesser
RB: Eddie George, Chris Brown, Robert Holcombe
HB: Erron Kinney
WR: Derrick Mason, Justin McCareins, Drew Bennett, Eddie Berlin, Tyrone Calico, Jake Schifino, Darrell Hill
TE: Frank Wycheck, Shad Meier
PK: Gary Anderson, Craig Hentrich
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