Player to watch
Sidney Rice, WR, Minnesota Vikings
No doubt he’s benefiting from the arrival of quarterback Brett Favre. And the fact that Percy Harvin is producing as a rookie. And that teams are scared of running back Adrian Peterson. That said, Rice is having an excellent season with a team-best 44 catches and 786 yards. He could add heavily to those numbers vs. Seattle’s 22th-ranked pass defense. But give Rice credit for the season he’s having. He missed three games last season and was limited in others because of a knee injury. After some prodding from friend Larry Fitzgerald, and ex-Vikings great Cris Carter, Rice worked out with those two in Minnesota this past offseason. His work is paying off. — John Keim
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Story lines
1. No more getting Buffaloed » Bills owner Ralph Wilson has gotten serious about making his team into a winner again — and apparently no one’s job is safe. At the end of the season, Wilson has pledged his openness to hiring a big-name coach, a GM with a football background and “revamp … the whole operation.” He seems serious about changing the atmosphere with the offseason signing of Terrell Owens and the recent firing of Dick Jauron after a 3-6 start. This is the 50th anniversary of the franchise which the U.Va. product has been the only owner and a football innovator. Just goes to show than an old dog (91 years-old) can still learn a new trick. We can only hope the Redskins, with a much younger dog (44 years-old), sees this and realizes this is the smart thing to do. But we’re not holding our breath …. — Leon Saffelle
2. The Titans are ruining things for other fringe playoff contenders » The one thing that NFL teams don’t do very well at all — perhaps they should learn from the NBA — is tank. Giving up, like the Redskins did a couple weeks back in Atlanta, is more likely to result in a player suffering a career-ending injury than his team earning a No. 1 draft pick. With that in mind, the Titans decided to prove they were never as bad as their 0-6 start might have led some to believe, winning three straight with Vince Young running the huddle and Chris Johnson running wild. Last week they shellacked Buffalo, but the previous two victories came over Jacksonville (5-4) and San Francisco (4-5), both clubs that still harbor dreams of a wild card berth. On Monday night, Tennessee can knock Houston (5-4) down a peg, too. — Craig Stouffer
3. End of the Wildcat? » With Ronnie Brown out for the season, the Dolphins still have Pat White to run the Wildcat offense. But Miami may scrap the gimmick formation in favor of a conventional power attack. Seriously, with Bill Parcells running the show, didn’t you see this coming? Thursday in Miami’s 24-17 win over Carolina, 32-year-old Ricky Williams, running behind a revitalized offensive line, had 138 yards and three touchdowns on 24 touches. In addition, QB Chad Henne, now 5-2 as a starter, didn’t have a turnover and is gaining the confidence of offensive coordinator Dan Henning. Ranking No. 4 in the NFL in rushing (156 yards per game), Miami (5-5) has won five of its last seven and might be ready for another playoff run, this time without the Wildcat. — Kevin Dunleavy
Upset special
49ers over the Packers
Here’s the thing about the middle of the pack in the NFC. No one is any good. So the Packers (5-4) can look great against Dallas one week and easily drop a game at home against San Francisco (4-5) the next. The 49ers have the tools to win this one and set up a playoff push down the stretch. Only two teams are better at defending the run (87.7 yards per game). Green Bay, meanwhile, struggles to keep pressure off quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Running back Frank Gore (5.2 yards per carry) needs a big game for the 49ers. But that won’t be easy as a strong Packers’ secondary will let them challenge the line of scrimmage. — Brian McNally
Fantasy watch
Five to start
1. QB Aaron Rodgers » He’s fourth in the NFL in QB rating and has thrown 17 TD passes. The Packers face a Niners’ defense that allows 248.3 passing yards per game.
2. RB Laurence Maroney » For once the Pats have a clear No. 1 running back and Maroney has scored a TD in each of the last four games.
3. RB Pierre Thomas » He has only been getting about 13 carries a game, but is facing a Bucs’ defense that has allowed the second-most rushing yards in the NFL.
4. WR Marques Colston » After just three catches in the last two games, expect the Saints’ No. 1 wideout to get back on track against the Bucs.
5. WR Steve Breaston » He’s been targeted more the past three games with 15 catches, 202 yards and two TDs. The Cardinals also play the Rams this week.
Five to sit
1. QB Jay Cutler » Can you ever really trust this guy? He’s thrown three more interceptions than anyone else in the NFL and is on pace for 30 picks this season.
2. RB Ryan Grant » He’s only broke 100 yards once this season and is facing a Niners’ defense that is allowing an NFL-low 3.3 yards per carry.
3. RB Justin Forsett » He matched his season total last week — rushing for 123 yards. But the Seahawks are playing the Vikings, who have only allowed two rushing TDs this season.
4. WR Miles Austin » His last two games he’s had just five catches and 69 yards and is facing a Redskins’ defense that is allowing an NFL-low 162.7 passing yards per game.
5. WR Vincent Jackson » The Chargers’ wideout had a season-low one catch and 10 yards last week and faces one of the league’s top cornerbacks this week — Champ Bailey.
— Jeffrey Tomik
Game to watch
Chargers at Broncos, 4:15 p.m., CBS
Three weeks ago Denver threatened to run away with the AFC West title, a stunning development considering San Diego entered the season with many expecting them to accomplish that feat. But the Chargers have won three straight; the Broncos have lost three straight and now it’s a battle. Denver won the first game, 34-23, but could be at a disadvantage in this game with starting quarterback Kyle Orton being a game-time decision. Chris Simms was horrendous in backup duty vs. Washington. The Chargers can pound away on offense with LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers then let their defense wait for Simms to make a mistake. With Kansas City and Cleveland up next, San Diego can take control of the west with a win. — John Keim
Examiner Power Rankings
— James Irwin
| No. | Team (Record) | Comment | Pvs. |
| 1 | Colts (9-0) | Still early, but AFC path to Super Bowl rolls through Indy | 2 |
| 2 | Saints (9-0) | Chris McAlister adds depth to a banged-up secondary | 1 |
| 3 | Vikings (8-1) | Favre has six games with QB rating of 101.4 or better | 3 |
| 4 | Bengals (7-2) | Fighting Ochocincos are 4-0 vs. Steelers and Ravens | 6 |
| 5 | Patriots (6-3) | In case you were wondering, we definitely would’ve punted | 4 |
| 6 | Steelers (6-3) | Men of steel out-muscled by surging Bengals | 5 |
| 7 | Chargers (6-3) | NFC East conquerors now are all even with Broncos | 11 |
| 8 | Cardinals (6-3) | Beanie Wells averaging 5.3 ypc in last four games | 12 |
| 9 | Broncos (6-3) | That sound you hear is the other shoe dropping | 7 |
| 10 | Cowboys (6-3) | Are 0-1 since taking NFC East lead Nov. 8 | 8 |
| 11 | Falcons (5-4) | Game at Giants now has major wild card implications | 9 |
| 12 | Ravens (5-4) | Not pretty, but showing up usually does the trick @ Browns | 13 |
| 13 | Packers (5-4) | Manned up big time at home vs. Cowboys; does it last? | 14 |
| 14 | Eagles (5-4) | Are 0-2 since taking NFC East lead Nov. 1 | 10 |
| 15 | Giants (5-4) | Made up 1/2 game on Philly, Dallas without even playing | 15 |
| 16 | Bears (4-5) | Next two (vs. Philly, @ Minnesota) will determine their fate | 16 |
| 17 | Dolphins (5-5) | Ricky Williams had himself a day (3 TDs) vs. Panthers | 19 |
| 18 | Texans (5-4) | Forget about the division, time to focus on wild card | 18 |
| 19 | Panthers (4-6) | Likely need to run the table the rest of the way | 20 |
| 20 | Titans (3-6) | Have scored 105 points in three games Young has started | 21 |
| 21 | Jaguars (5-4) | Up; down; up; down; up? … make up your mind already! | 25 |
| 22 | 49ers (4-5) | Tough, but winnable stretch coming up (GB, Jags, ’Hawks) | 24 |
| 23 | Jets (4-5) | Cryin’ Ryan and Gang Green are running out of gas | 17 |
| 24 | Bills (3-6) | We think T.O. should coach the rest of the season | 22 |
| 25 | Seahawks (3-6) | Officially beyond done; great coffee though | 23 |
| 26 | Redskins (3-6) | Incredibly, a win puts them within 2 games of division lead | 28 |
| 27 | Raiders (2-7) | Darrius Heyward-Bey needs to invest in a can of Stickum | 26 |
| 28 | Chiefs (2-7) | If the Chiefs beat the Raiders, and nobody watched it … | 31 |
| 29 | Lions (1-8) | Inching closer to 30s, or, as they call it, ‘home sweet home’ | 27 |
| 30 | Buccaneers (1-8) | Showed a ton of heart against Fins; must replicate effort | 29 |
| 31 | Rams (1-8) | Showed a ton of heart against Saints; must replicate effort | 30 |
| 32 | Browns (1-8) | Quinn awful; Cribbs hurt; LeBron yapping … yeeeeesh | 32 |
