 |
Steeler RB Jerome Bettis rushed for just 41 yards in Week
One, but don’t expect that trend to continue this week vs. the Bears. Chicago
surrendered 160 yards on the ground last week to the Jaguars, including 115 by James
Stewart. |
|
Stewart, meanwhile, could be in for a rude awakening this
week vs. the Chief run defense. Despite blitzing almost constantly, Kansas City allowed
only 52 yards on the ground vs. Napoleon Kaufman and Oakland last week. |
|
Falcon RB Jamal Anderson rushed for 88 yards in Week One,
but he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. That figure should take a sharp upturn this week
vs. the Eagles, who surrendered 188 rushing yards (at 5.5 yards per carry) to the Seahawks
last week. |
|
The 49er pass defense got lit up by the Jets in Week One,
but that doesn’t necessarily mean San Francisco will get burned this week by the
Redskins. Washington’s receivers, Michael Westbrook and Leslie Shepherd, aren’t
as dangerous as the Jet trio of Keyshawn Johnson, Wayne Chrebet and Dedric Ward, and the
Redskins are starting green QB Trent Green, who will face all kinds of blitz packages.
Whatever ailed the 49er pass defense in Week One will be a focal point for their coaching
staff this week. |
|
The Giant running game really struggled in Week One vs. the
Redskins, netting just 82 yards on 30 carries (2.7 yards per attempt). The Giants should
be able to turn that around this week vs. the Raiders, who yielded 143 yards on the ground
last week vs. a Chief team that played most of the game without top OG Dave Szott. The
Giants are using a RB-by-committee system featuring Tiki Barber, Charles Way and Gary
Brown. |
|
The Rams really shut down the Saint running game in Week
One, but that does not mean you should even consider benching Viking RB Robert Smith this
week. New Orleans’ offensive line, while talented, can’t hold a candle to
Minnesota’s, which helped Smith averaged five yards per carry (18 rushes for 90
yards) against a tough Buccaneer defense in Week One. |
|
