Giants want to focus on field, winning NFC East as they host Eagles
Associated Press
The best team in the NFL always garners plenty of headlines, just not usually outside the realm of sports media.
National attention from even the most casual of sports fans has been heaped upon the New York Giants due to the Plaxico Burress situation, and overcoming that enormous distraction -- particularly for Antonio Pierce -- is what they face Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles
Clinching the NFC East title and a first-round bye in the playoffs, which New York (11-1) will do with a victory, would usually be a celebratory occasion, but might just be more of a relief than anything else to a Giants team in turmoil.
So much of the focus Sunday will be on a star receiver who won't even take the field, and may never again with New York. The Giants suspended Burress for four games -- the rest of the regular season -- and placed him on the reserve non-football injury list Tuesday for conduct detrimental to the team, meaning he won't return for the playoffs, either.
"The only thing I hope that we gain from that is that people will stop asking us about Plaxico, that's probably the best thing about it, that it bring some closure at least as far as this season as far as football," defensive tackle Barry Cofield said.
The news that Burress would not be back with the Giants this season came after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh with a handgun he brought to a Manhattan nightclub last weekend. He was charged with two counts of illegal weapons possession and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
"There is nothing good that will come out of it and there isn't much to say," receiver Amani Toomer said. "It's just tough, it's just tough for everyone to deal with. I'm just glad he is OK. It could have been worse."
Further negative attention was provided not only by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's outspoken criticism of Burress, but through a possible cover-up involving Pierce. A former Pro Bowler considered the leader of the defense, Pierce was at the club with Burress and is being investigated amid reports he may have tried to hide the gun.
The Giants, though, expect Pierce to play Sunday, as should running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who also was at the club but apparently was not involved in the incident.
"I don't know if it's just being in New York or what causes it, but it always seems like there's something going on, there's a distraction and we've had our share of them," quarterback Eli Manning said. "I think myself, the players, the coaches have just learned how to cope with them."
Though Burress was New York's top receiver over the past three seasons, his absence might not hurt the offense too much. He hasn't contributed much lately and the Giants have not cooled off, winning seven in a row.
Burress appeared in six games during that span and didn't catch more than three passes in any of them, totaling just 137 yards. The three games this season in which Burress did not factor -- one for suspension and all but one series of the last two games due to a hamstring injury -- were some of Manning's best performances. He completed 71.7 percent of his passes for 812 yards with six touchdowns and one interception as the Giants scored a combined 104 points, beating Seattle, Arizona and Washington.
However, a 6-foot-5, 232-pound frame made Burress one of Manning's favorite targets in the end zone and he did have four TD receptions after totaling 22 the last two years, not including his game-winning catch in the Super Bowl.
"When you lose a player of Plaxico's ability, it is incumbent that everybody step up and fill the void," coach Tom Coughlin said. "In the last two seasons, this team has done an outstanding job of that."
Plenty of receivers, particularly second-year players Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith, have become key figures in the offense while Burress has been ineffective or out of action. While Smith has a team-leading 43 receptions for 424 yards, Hixon has been targeted much more in the last two games with 128 yards on 11 catches.
Toomer has 39 catches for a team-high 480 yards in his 13th NFL season and has touchdowns in two straight games. Even tight end Kevin Boss, mostly used as a blocker earlier this season, has contributed in the passing game with 20 catches for 226 yards and four TDs in the last six games.
Having the league's best rushing attack also has opened up the passing game. The Giants are averaging 160.2 yards on the ground, including 219 in a 36-31 win at Philadelphia on Nov. 9.
Brandon Jacobs ran for 126 of those yards and two touchdowns, and he returned last week after a one-game absence due to a knee injury to rush for 71 yards and a score in a 23-7 win in Washington. Even without Burress, Manning had his first 300-yard passing day since Week 6 of 2007.
The Giants now have an opportunity to match the 1970 Minnesota Vikings' NFL record of seven consecutive victories against teams with winning records. They've outscored the opposition 180-77 in winning six straight at Giants Stadium, their longest home winning streak since a seven-game run in 1990.
Last week, the Eagles (6-5-1) were the team embroiled in controversy following Donovan McNabb's benching and an 0-2-1 skid. The team, and particularly the quarterback, are much happier leading into this matchup.
Besides throwing four touchdown passes in a 48-20 Thanksgiving win over Arizona, McNabb became a father for the second time when his wife gave birth to twins early Tuesday.
Still, the Eagles likely need to win their final four games to have any shot of making the playoffs. They can't catch first-place New York, which has won the last three meetings, and five teams are ahead of them in the wild-card hunt.
Considering how well the Giants have played -- they've led by double digits in the fourth quarter of five straight games -- maybe the magnitude of Burress' predicament gives Eagles' fans a bit more hope for a desperately needed win against what could be a distracted Super Bowl champion.
"It's a tough situation to be a part of because I'm sure they don't wanna keep answering questions about it," McNabb said. "Everyone has been through some trying times during the season, but it's all on how you handle it."
Falcons look for third straight victory vs. desperate Saints
Associated Press
The Atlanta Falcons keep on winning, entering the season's home stretch in the driver's seat for a surprising playoff berth in the NFC.
The disappointing New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, are down to their last gasp at staying alive.
The last-place Saints will be desperate for a victory at home on Sunday when the Falcons try to complete a season sweep of their NFC South rivals and bolster their positioning in a crowded playoff chase.
When Atlanta (8-4) entered the season with a rookie starting at quarterback and a first-year coach guiding an overhauled roster, it didn't seem likely that the team would hold a two-game edge on the high-powered Saints (6-6) heading into their Week 14 matchup.
The Falcons have won six of their last eight, and while they trail Carolina and Tampa Bay by one game for the division lead, they are tied with Dallas for the NFC's final playoff spot. They hold the tiebreaker over the Cowboys with the better conference record.
"We're certainly in good position and we've got an opportunity, so we're excited about that," rookie quarterback Matt Ryan said.
The Falcons haven't won three straight games since the 2005 season, but coach Mike Smith's club will have that chance on Sunday after beating the Panthers and San Diego Chargers the past two weeks.
Last Sunday's 22-16 win in San Diego featured another strong performance from Ryan, who went 17-of-23 for 207 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Ryan has been picked off just once in the last five games, with Atlanta winning four times over that span.
Former Charger Michael Turner carried 31 times for 120 yards against his old teammates, while Atlanta's run defense held San Diego star LaDainian Tomlinson to 24 yards on 14 carries -- the second-lowest rushing output of his career.
The Falcons held the Chargers to a season-low 201 total yards, helping the team overcome three lost fumbles.
"I have to give credit to them," Tomlinson said. "We have been moving the ball pretty effectively on everybody. Today we couldn't move the ball, couldn't get first downs, couldn't run the ball and couldn't throw. Anytime that happens, that defense must be playing pretty good."
Atlanta certainly won't be able to cruise to the playoffs, with its next three games against teams at or over .500 and two of them on the road. The young Falcons, though, have won three of their last four road games, with Ryan boasting passer ratings over 130 in each of the past two.
"If we'll work the process and if the players continue to mature like the young guys are and the old guys keep leading, we're going to like the outcome of these last four football games," Smith said.
New Orleans likely needs to win all four of its remaining games to have a chance at the postseason. Not only do the Saints occupy the NFC South cellar, but they also trail Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia in the race for a wild-card spot.
"We sit here at 6-6 and it's disappointing," coach Sean Payton said. "... We have four weeks left and certainly understand how everyone else is playing ahead of us and that makes it much more challenging."
Drew Brees is on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season record for passing yards, leading the NFL with 3,870, but the Saints have been plagued by inconsistency on defense, allowing 29 or more points seven times this season.
They've also had problems with turnovers. Brees threw three interceptions in a 23-20 loss at Tampa Bay last Sunday, including two in the fourth quarter. The first one set up the Buccaneers' go-ahead field goal, and the second squandered the Saints' chance to counter.
"We had our perfect chances out there and we didn't take advantage of it," Brees said. "It's disappointing, very disappointing. It's probably one of the more disappointing losses I have ever been a part of."
Brees was also picked off three times in the Saints' 34-20 loss at Atlanta on Nov. 9, a game that snapped their four-game winning streak against the Falcons. New Orleans rolled up 521 total yards in that game -- including 422 through the air from Brees -- but Atlanta still picked up an easy win at the Georgia Dome.
The Saints have been much better in the Superdome, going 5-1. In their last three home games, they've turned the ball over just once while averaging more than 40 points.
Explosive back Reggie Bush returned from a knee injury against the Bucs, but now the Saints will be without running back Deuce McAllister and defensive end Will Smith for the rest of the regular season. McAllister and Smith, along with injured defensive end Charles Grant, were among six players suspended by the NFL Tuesday for the use of a banned diuretic.
Date in Pittsburgh up next for resurgent Cowboys
Associated Press
With Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger getting healthy, the playoff hopes of the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers are looking up.
All they'll see this weekend, however, are a pair of defenses intent on taking them down.
Romo and Roethlisberger square off on Sunday in Pittsburgh, as Dallas pays its first visit to Heinz Field in a matchup of teams riding three-game winning streaks -- and two of the NFL's most sack-happy defenses.
Romo's broken right pinkie and Roethlisberger's separated right shoulder have received a lot of attention this season, and with good reason as the duo have two of the highest winning percentages among active starting quarterbacks.
Romo is 26-9 (74.3 percent) as a starter for Dallas (8-4) while Roethlisberger is 47-19 (71.2 percent) under center for the Steelers (9-3) since his rookie season in 2004.
Roethlisberger hasn't missed any time despite injuring his throwing shoulder in Pittsburgh's season opener, but Romo's pinkie cost him three games. Considering Brad Johnson went 1-2 and threw five interceptions as a starter, the Cowboys couldn't wait to get him back, and Romo has delivered.
Since his return on Nov. 16, Romo has guided the Cowboys to three straight wins. He was 22-of-34 for 331 yards on Thanksgiving Day in a 34-9 rout of Seattle that now has Dallas tied with Atlanta for the NFC's second wild-card spot.
"We had a rough patch and we're still not out of it," Romo said. "We've still got to go forward and keep putting together wins to get in the playoffs. Our confidence level is that on any given Sunday we can compete with the best of anybody."
Pittsburgh has also won three straight, and while its top-ranked defense has been largely responsible, so has some improved decision-making from Roethlisberger. He threw seven interceptions in three games from Oct. 26-Nov. 9 -- with the Steelers losing twice -- but he's had only one in the last three weeks.
He tossed two touchdowns for the first time since Oct. 19 on Sunday at New England, and Pittsburgh's defense forced five second-half turnovers to blow out the Patriots 33-10 and remain a game up on Baltimore in the AFC North.
"It was unbelievable," Roethlisberger said of the Steelers' defense, which let New England convert one of its 13 third-downs. "You get to the sidelines, put your coat on, your hat on and, all of a sudden, you're ready to go back on the field."
The Steelers sacked New England's Matt Cassel five times, giving them a league-leading 42 this season. With four games remaining, Pittsburgh is on pace to break the franchise-record of 55 sacks, set in 1994 and matched in 2001.
Linebacker James Harrison has been the leading force for Pittsburgh's pass rush, registering 14 sacks. He also leads the NFL with six forced fumbles, including two in less than five minutes of the third quarter last Sunday.
"Not to take it for granted, but that's what we've come to expect from him because that's what he's capable of," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
Pittsburgh leads the NFL in scoring defense (14.2 points per game), total defense (238.0 yards per game), and is No. 1 individually against the run (71.2 ypg) and the pass (166.8).
The Cowboys have the NFL's ninth-best total defense (296.8 ypg), but they're just two sacks behind the Steelers' league-high total. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware had three sacks against the Seahawks, and leads the NFL with 15.
Roethlisberger, meanwhile, has been sacked 33 times, tied for second-most in the league, but it's not certain Ware will get the opportunity to add to that total. He sprained his left knee late against Seattle, and wasn't expected to practice most of the week.
Dallas coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday he was "hopeful" Ware could go on Sunday.
Even if Ware can play, the Cowboys could have a difficult time with their footing. Snow is expected on Sunday on the notoriously shoddy grass playing surface at Heinz Field.
One Cowboy who will be on the field for the first time since Oct. 12 is cornerback Adam Jones, who missed six games for violating the league's player conduct policy. Jones should give a boost to a thin Dallas secondary, and he's also expected to return punts.
"He can do all the things on the football field that you ask a man to do," defensive tackle Tank Johnson said. "We're just excited about him coming back and continuing to do better."
Pittsburgh is also expected to get a boost in its secondary. Cornerback Bryant McFadden hasn't played since breaking his forearm on Oct. 19, but he should return on Sunday.
Running back Willie Parker, meanwhile, has been battling a knee injury throughout the season, and though he's carried the ball 30 times in the past two weeks, backup Mewelde Moore has seen plenty of time as well. Tomlin expects that to continue against the Cowboys, who haven't allowed a rushing touchdown during their three-game winning streak.
"Mewelde is a good player, and he's proved that he's capable of helping us win," Tomlin said. "We all know what Willie's capable of doing."
The Steelers and Cowboys last played in Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium in 1997, and their only meeting since came in Dallas in 2004 during Roethlisberger's rookie season. He went 21-of-25 for 193 yards with two touchdowns in the Steelers' 24-20 win.
Redskins, Ravens fight to keep playoff hopes alive
Associated Press
Though they've struggled against the league's top teams, the Baltimore Ravens have feasted on lesser competition to put themselves in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt. Their first game in a make-or-break December pits them against a team that's followed a similar pattern lately.
The Ravens go for their seventh win in eight games on Sunday night when they open a challenging stretch by hosting the mercurial Washington Redskins.
Despite playing for a rookie coach, employing a first-year quarterback and playing with much the same roster that went 5-11 last season, Baltimore (8-4) is only one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North and currently in position to make the postseason as a wild-card team.
The Ravens' favorable position entering the last month of the season is largely due to their success against teams they've been expected to beat. They're 6-0 against teams with losing records, including a combined 4-0 against division rivals Cleveland and Cincinnati.
But Baltimore is just 2-4 against teams with winning records. That includes a 31-3 loss to Indianapolis and a 30-10 defeat against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
While that doesn't bode well for a three-week stretch that features matchups with Washington (7-5), Pittsburgh and Dallas, Ravens coach John Harbaugh insists that his team has nothing to prove.
"Our guys have earned the right to be playing meaningful football games in December," he said Monday, one day after the Ravens routed the Bengals 34-3 in Cincinnati. "That's all we care about."
Harbaugh's club has outscored opponents 70-10 in back-to-back victories, and while that kind of dominant defense has become the standard in Baltimore under coordinator Rex Ryan, the offense has been delivering nearly as consistently lately. After averaging 15.6 points during their 2-3 start, the Ravens have surpassed that mark in all but one game during their 6-1 run, averaging 30.6 points overall in that stretch.
Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has keyed the surge. The first-round pick from Delaware has thrown 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions in the last seven games, and is getting comfortable taking more chances with his receivers.
"I think you see they're starting to come alive and make all the plays, not just one out of so many" Flacco said after completing 19-of-29 for 280 yards and two touchdowns last Sunday. "I'm starting to trust them more, so I'm putting the ball where they're going to get it."
While the Ravens have begun to thrive in their first year with Harbaugh and Flacco, the Redskins (7-5) have slowed down after a hot start in their first season under coach Jim Zorn.
Jason Campbell got a lot of the credit after posting three straight games with a 100-plus passer rating as part of Washington's 4-1 start, but now he's the focal point of criticism after throwing just four touchdown passes in his last seven games. The Redskins are 3-4 in that stretch.
"We started out so fast," Campbell said. "We got on such a streak that we were scoring so fast that expectations and everything on our team went through the roof, and people forgot we were still in this thing in its first year."
Washington's recent struggles are partially due to the team's inability to hang with tough opponents. The Redskins were considered contenders after notching back-to-back road wins over highly touted division rivals Dallas and Philadelphia on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, respectively. Since then, however, they're 0-3 against teams with winning records.
The Redskins, whose lone win in November was over lowly Seattle, gave up a season-high 404 total yards in a 23-7 home loss to the Giants last Sunday.
"There's still a long road ahead of us," said running back Clinton Portis, who entered the game as the league's leading rusher before getting held to a season-low 22 yards on 11 carries.
"We're not out of the playoffs. Back two weeks ago, everybody was crucifying the Cowboys. Now they're back to America's greatest team. Now we're in the same situation."
Though he says it's too early to count the Redskins out, Portis could have a hard time bouncing back against the Ravens, who haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 31 games, the longest current streak in the NFL. They're holding opponents to an average of 78.3 yards on the ground, third-fewest in the league.
Copyright 2008 by the Associated Press
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