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NFL PICKS- (covers.com) week 12 opening line report .
Even with such a small sampling of 16 NFL games, linesmakers can make mistakes - there may even be several this week.
At least two offshore books opened Indianapolis -13 against Philadelphia on Sunday. By early Monday, the line was down to Colts -9.
Bookmakers opened Indy so high because the Eagles won’t have Donovan McNabb. But oddsmaker Mike Seba of Las Vegas Sports Consultants (LVSC) says LVSC would have made the Colts a 7-point favorite if McNabb hadn`t suffered his season-ending injury.
Do the Colts deserve to be such a high favorite? Wise guys don’t think so.
“The Colts are a good team,” professional bettor Dave Malinsky says. “That’s pretty much it. They are not a great team. They’ve made plays when they’ve had to. But they could be 7-3.”
Professional bettor Ted Sevransky offers three explanations why the Colts already have been steamed down besides the obvious factor of the line opening too high. The first being that the the Colts just suffered their first defeat.
“It’s almost a knee-jerk reaction when a team loses its first game to bet against that team the following week,” he said.
Sevransky also noted professional gamblers go against the Colts nearly every week, believing Indy’s lines are inflated. Another reason is the perception a new quarterback plays well his first start following an injury to No. 1.
Even more glaring than the Eagles-Colts line is St. Louis being a 6-point favorite against San Francisco. The 49ers have won three straight and their defense has allowed just 30 points the last 14 quarters. Meanwhile, the Rams have dropped five in a row.
“The spot says St. Louis, but they’re not the better of the two teams,” Sevransky says.
Malinsky fully agrees.
“Here’s a team in the 49ers actually putting together good games,” he adds. “They genuinely could be better than the Rams. They are young, hungry and developing.”
Seba defends the Rams laying six by pointing out that until the 49ers beat the Lions in Detroit two weeks ago, they were 0-3 on the road. Two of those away defeats were 41-0 to the Chiefs and 41-10 to the Bears when they trailed 41-0 at halftime.
“It’s a situation where San Francisco’s home-road dichotomy is so large,” Seba says. “The Rams have to have this game and are at home. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see it (the line) come down a bit.”
Pinnacle sportsbook opened Denver -3 at Kansas City even though the Broncos have been spotty defensively over the past few weeks. The line has dropped to Denver -1.
“There have been some small bets on the Broncos, but the volume is heavily in favor of the Chiefs,” says Simon Noble, bet shop manager at Pinnacle.
Still, Kansas City hasn’t looked good the past two weeks, losing at Miami and squeaking past Oakland at home this past Sunday.
Meanwhile, there’s not a lot of respect anywhere for Jake Plummer. Expect Trent Green to play better, too, in his second game back.
Pinnacle had strong one-way line movement on Oakland-San Diego after opening the Chargers -9 ½. The Chargers currently are up to -13.
“When the line hit 11, Pinnacle saw some two-way action with slightly more volume on San Diego,” Noble says. “There is much more volume and three times as many bets on the Chargers at this point.”
The Jets are laying 6 at home to the Texans. It’s the most points the Jets have been favored by since the second game of last year.
Is this line high considering the most the Jets have won by is eight points?
“Its right where it should be,” Seba says. “The Jets hung in real well defensively against the Bears. Houston struggles anywhere.
“It doesn’t get any better for the Jets being at home. If they’re ever going to win by more than seven this is the game.”
Those looking to lay less than a field goal with the Patriots against the Bears were disappointed. The line opened New England -3 and is inching closer to -3 ½ with some places making bettors lay -125 juice instead of the normal -110 vigorish if they like the Patriots.
“The opener received two-way action,” Pinnacle’s Noble says. “There was more volume on the Pats. This was followed by a wave of Bears money, some of which was sharp. We’re not seeing heavy two-way action, but there’s still more money on New England suggesting the line might hit 3 ½.”
NFL PICKS : (associated press): bears successful in back to back meadowlands trip.
Back-to-back games at the Meadowlands followed by a trip to AFC East leader New England?
This looked like trouble for the Chicago Bears. Instead, they beat the New York Jets 10-0 on Sunday to complete a Meadowlands sweep.
And they used an old formula: key defensive plays and a sound running game. Throw in Chris Harris` recovery of an onside kick by New York to start the second half that led to a field goal. Then, mix in one big touchdown by Mark Bradley, and it adds up to a 9-1 record for Chicago.
``We knew it would be a tough task,`` coach Lovie Smith said on Monday. ``We got two of the wins. Now, we`re down to one team.``
A win next week and losses by Green Bay and Minnesota would give the Bears their second straight NFC North title, but they have bigger goals than that, starting with the conference championship. They put themselves in good position for the No. 1 seed when they beat the Giants on Nov. 12.
``Some guys can think that far ahead, but I can`t,`` Smith said. ``I can tell you a lot about New England.``
Pinnaclesports.com has the Bears listed as early 3-point underdogs against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles
Without Donovan McNabb, the outlook seems bleak. The Eagles are getting too familiar with not having their star quarterback. For the third time in five years, McNabb has sustained a season-ending injury in mid-November.
Now the Eagles (5-5) must find a way to win games with veteran Jeff Garcia or A.J. Feeley leading an offense that was ranked first in the NFL until Sunday`s 31-13 loss to Tennessee.
Coach Andy Reid wouldn`t choose a starter for the upcoming game at the Indianapolis Colts, saying he needed to speak to his coaching staff first.
Garcia replaced McNabb against the Titans, finishing 26-for-48 for 189 yards and one touchdown in his first action with the starters since training camp. Feeley hasn`t thrown a pass in a regular-season game Dec. 26, 2004.
``This is the same offense I played in when I was here three years ago,`` Feeley said. ``It`s the same stuff. I feel comfortable. If I didn`t, then I probably shouldn`t be out there in uniform.``
Buffalo Bills
With just a handful of ticks on the clock, and the Bills needing a touchdown to win, J.P. Losman knew what he was - and wasn`t - about to do.
``In the huddle, J.P. said, `I`m not throwing a check-down this time. I got to take a shot at the end zone, so guys, get open,``` said receiver Peerless Price, who did exactly what his quarterback said, hauling in Losman`s 15-yard strike to give Buffalo a 24-21 comeback victory over Houston on Sunday.
The win was Losman`s first fourth-quarter comeback of his two-year starting career, and perhaps the game that propels him to the next level in his bumpy NFL development.
``This was my first time pulling through it,`` Losman said. ``I`ve had chances before and didn`t come through. It felt great.``
The Bills` offense had been sputtering the last three weeks, with Losman the leading culprit. The 2004 first-round pick had thrown for just 377 yards combined against New England, Green Bay and Indianapolis.
But the coaching staff developed a game plan allowing Losman to take some shots downfield against an aggressive Houston defense. The result was a career high 340 yards passing for Losman and a franchise-high 265 yards receiving for fellow 2004 first-rounder Lee Evans.
``They gave me a chance to spread the ball around doing some things, and the offensive line did a great job protecting me,`` Losman said.
``I don`t know how big, but it was a good step,`` coach Dick Jauron said of his quarterback. ``He`s progressed every week even though he hasn`t performed real well every week. He`s learned from it, and we`re hoping this is another step.``
Miami Dolphins
Miami gained 7 yards rushing Monday, which is better than it did on any carry Sunday against Minnesota.
Elias Sports Bureau reviewed a play in the first half of the game and changed a 7-yard loss by quarterback Joey Harrington from a rush to a sack. As a result, the Dolphins` net rushing total improved from minus-3 yards to plus-4 yards in 13 carries.
That`s still a franchise low, and a team defensive record for the Vikings. The Dolphins won 24-20, making them the first team to win with such a poor rushing total since 1986.
The Dolphins may be without two ailing defensive backs Thursday when they play at Detroit.
Starting cornerback Will Allen (groin) and reserve safety Travares Tillman (hand) were hurt in Sunday`s win over Minnesota. Allen`s status is ``day to day at best,`` coach Nick Saban said Monday, and Tillman was scheduled to be examined by a specialist.
Tennessee Titans
Tight end Ben Troupe will get a second opinion for his right ankle that he hurt on his 14-yard touchdown catch against Philadelphia. Troupe already has had X-rays, and coach Jeff Fisher said the ankle needs further studies. When asked if Troupe`s ankle was broken, Fisher said, ``We`re going to send him out and get a second opinion.``
Troupe has 13 catches for 150 yards after a career-high 55 receptions a year ago. The Titans already have placed tight end Erron Kinney on injured reserve. But Fisher said Ben Hartsock, claimed off waivers last month from Indianapolis, could help because he started practicing last week.
That leaves only second-year Bo Scaife and Casey Cramer healthy among the tight ends.
Carolina Panthers
Coach John Fox has seem some bad films on Monday mornings this season. The latest tape is headed to his classics library, though.
``I think it was as good of team defense as we`ve played this year,`` Fox said after reviewing the defensive film of the Panthers` 15-0 win over St. Louis. ``There were times where the coverage made the quarterback hold the ball and it bought time for the rush. There were times when the rush broke free and might have covered up some problems in the coverage. ... It was definitely our best tackling game.``
The Panthers held the Rams to 111 yards and had a team record-tying seven sacks in handing St. Louis its first shutout since 1998. The Panthers (6-4) have allowed 10 points in two games and moved into a first-place tie with New Orleans in the NFC South.
``We`re starting to feel each other,`` said safety Mike Minter, who scheduled weekly dinners among defensive players three weeks ago to create chemistry. ``With so many new guys coming in there, they didn`t understand what it takes to play on this Carolina Panthers defense.``
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coach Jon Gruden didn`t bother heading home to savor a victory over Washington. With another game only four days away, he headed to the office Sunday night to get an early start on preparing for Thursday`s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys - the Buccaneers` first appearance on Thanksgiving Day.
Not only does Gruden face installing a game plan, but he has to determine how much of it he can reasonably cover in practice during a short week.
The players were off Monday, meaning they`ll have one full practice Tuesday and travel to Dallas after a walkthrough on Wednesday morning.
``You can`t practice everything,`` Gruden said. ``We`ve got a lot of young guys playing. I`m a little uneasy about it, but I`m eager to see what we can get done.``
The Bucs are two-thirds of the way through a demanding stretch that has them playing three times in 11 days, with two games on the road. After losing at Carolina last week, they rebounded Sunday to beat Washington 20-17. The victory stopped a three-game losing streak, and the players are upbeat about playing on Thanksgiving.
``It`s a challenge, but teams have been doing it for years,`` cornerback Ronde Barber said. ``This is our first experience with it. I think Jon will be smart with the schedule.``
Atlanta Falcons
Offensive guard Matt Lehr was added to the active roster Monday and Atlanta placed defensive end Patrick Kerney on injured reserve. The Kerney announcement was only a formality to clear a roster spot for Lehr. Kerney was lost for the season when he suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 12. Kerney was leading the Falcons with five sacks when he suffered the injury.
Kerney`s streak of 105 consecutive starts, the second-longest active streak among NFL defensive linemen and the third-longest streak in Falcons history, is over.
Coach Jim Mora said Monday he expects Lehr to start at left guard Sunday against New Orleans. Lehr started the first five games of the season before serving a four-game suspension for violation of the NFL`s steroids policy.
Detroit Lions
Detroit couldn`t even beat lowly Arizona, and now coach Rod Marinelli is trying to get his team to forget about the loss quickly because Joey Harrington-led Miami will be in town on Thanksgiving Day.
``That was the first thing we talked about last night in the locker room,`` Marinelli said Monday. ``I said, `This is disappointing, tough pill, but we have to immediately lick the wounds and move on.` We have to wire in to do our job.``
That job for the Lions (2-8) includes beating Harrington, who was traded just four seasons after the Lions drafted him third overall. He has helped Miami (4-6) win three straight games.
Harrington`s return to Ford Field - where he was booed unmercifully - will provide something intriguing in what seems to be a lackluster matchup. After losing to Atlanta last Thanksgiving, the Lions fired Steve Mariucci, and cornerback Dre` Bly later blamed Harrington for it.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is eligible to return this week after serving a four-game suspension for taking a banned substance that was in a weight-loss supplement, but Marinelli is not sure if Rogers will play. He had knee surgery during his suspension.
``I think it will be tough, to be honest,`` Marinelli said.
Houston Texans
Many Texans thought last week`s win over Jacksonville would be a turning point. Instead of building on the victory, the Texans followed up with a demoralizing loss to the Bills. Now they are back in the all-too-familiar place of trying to regroup after yet another tough defeat.
The Bills beat Houston 24-21 on a touchdown catch by Peerless Price with 13 seconds left Sunday.
``It`s just frustrating because it is so hard to win in this league, and when you let one go you second-guess yourself,`` coach Gary Kubiak said. ``I`m sitting there thinking about eight or 10 calls, not just one.``
Cornerback Dunta Robinson, who has spent his three-year career in Houston, said Sunday`s loss was especially painful.
``I feel terrible,`` he said. ``I hate to say it, but I`ve lost a lot of games here, and this is the worst feeling out of all the games I`ve ever lost.``
Houston`s last three losses have been by an average of just more than four points.
St. Louis Rams
Scott Linehan, who came to St. Louis promising a balanced attack, resembled his pass-happy predecessor in his latest game.
Linehan abandoned the run early and did a play-calling impersonation of Mike Martz in a 15-0 loss at Carolina on Sunday. The offensive line is hamstrung by Orlando Pace`s season-ending triceps injury, this on top of losing center Andy McCollum early in the season.
Resulting problems factored into an unbalanced mix of 41 pass plays and only eight runs as the Rams (4-6) got shut out for the first time since 1998 and managed only 111 total yards against a defense that ranked in the middle of the pack. St. Louis has lost five in a row after a 4-1 start, spoiling Linehan`s first season as head coach.
``Not one of our better days, certainly,`` Linehan said Monday. ``Offensively, we didn`t get anything going.``
Pace, who tore a triceps muscle on his left arm last week against Seattle, has been to the Pro Bowl seven straight seasons. His replacement at left tackle on Sunday, journeyman Adam Goldberg, is a big step down.
``It`s a factor, but we have to move on,`` Linehan said. ``We need to keep finding more and more ways to adjust. We can sit around and lament the fact that we don`t have him, or we can go out, get better, and find ways to get it done.
``That`s what we`re going to do.``
San Francisco 49ers
Backup linebacker T.J. Slaughter will be placed on injured reserve soon after tearing a tendon on his left ring finger Sunday. He will have surgery this week.
WR Arnaz Battle, who caught a touchdown pass against Seattle, underwent surgery Monday to place two small screws in his broken hand. Battle, who was hurt last week but played against the Seahawks with a protective glove on his hand, will wear a cast during practice before going back to the glove in St. Louis.
CB Shawntae Spencer and tackle Jonas Jennings both have sprained ankles, but Spencer`s injury is thought to be more serious. He was sidelined in the second half against Seattle, and backup Sammy Davis was beaten for a TD catch by Darrell Jackson
FREE NFL PICKS. (associated press): broncos struggling but still favored at kansas city.
Two straight losses at home. A game behind the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West. A defense suddenly allowing points and a quarterback who`s thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes.
It adds up to a bunch of negatives, but the Denver Broncos remain positive.
``We`ve got plenty of time to get back to where we want to be,`` tight end Stephen Alexander said. ``I hope that when you ask anybody, they`d say we`re one of the top teams.``
Never mind that 35-27 loss to San Diego on Sunday night. The Broncos (7-3) consider it a bad day at the office.
``This is one you`ve got to forget about in a hurry,`` safety John Lynch said. ``It hurts. But we`ve got put it behind us.``
With another AFC West showdown looming at Kansas City on Thanksgiving Day, Denver`s shortcomings are plain to see.
Oddsmakers have the Broncos listed as 1-point favorites and the total set at 38.
Jake Plummer is back to his bad Jake days, throwing 11 interceptions and only 10 touchdown passes this season. The defense, which had given up an NFL-low 111 points entering Sunday night, surrendered 28 points in the second half against San Diego.
Against the league`s top two offenses, Indianapolis and San Diego, Denver`s defense has given up 69 points.
``That`s on us,`` linebacker Al Wilson said. ``You can`t ask them (the offense) to score 50 points a game. Defensively, we`ve got to find ways to get a stop.``
San Diego`s Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson, scored four times in the second half. The Chargers, who trailed 24-7 in the third quarter, became the first NFL team to win back-to-back games after falling behind by 17 or more points. They rallied from a 28-7 halftime deficit to beat Cincinnati last Sunday.
Denver coach Mike Shanahan was asked if his confidence - not to mention patience - in Plummer was wavering.
``We`re just going to keep on working to get better,`` Shanahan said, without mentioning Plummer by name. ``We`ve had some good games, some average games and some poor games on offense.``
Shanahan wouldn`t get into the difference between Plummer`s numbers this season and 2005, when he went a franchise-record 229 pass attempts without an interception.
``The quarterback usually gets the glory or a lot of criticism, but it`s got to work together,`` Shanahan said of the offense.
Denver`s offense is averaging 18.5 points a game, 23rd in the league. Yet the Broncos don`t think teams are stopping them as much as they`re tripping over themselves.
``After watching film, there were a ton of yards left on the field, a ton of plays, we should`ve made (against San Diego),`` Alexander said. ``It`s a matter of being consistent.``
Although Denver has dropped two straight home games, the team has won four in a row on the road after a season-opening loss in St. Louis. It`s Denver`s longest winning streak on the road since 1998.
``I feel confident playing anywhere,`` Alexander said.
Denver`s next road trip - Arrowhead Stadium - isn`t a place where the team has found much success. The Broncos have lost in Kansas City six of the last seven years. Although they`re playing on a short week, in a hostile environment, the game can`t get here fast enough.
``It`s good to play Thursday,`` Alexander said. ``That way we can`t sit around and sulk about (San Diego).``
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QUICK HITS: S Nick Ferguson will have an MRI on his left knee. He injured it Sunday night. ``We don`t know what it is, but he finished the game, so that`s a good sign,`` Shanahan said. ... The Broncos are 3-6 all-time on Thanksgiving Day. They beat Dallas 24-21 in overtime last season. ... The Broncos have the best record in November (33-12) in the league since 1995. ... RB Mike Bell is fifth among NFL rookies in rushing with 395 yards.
FREE NFL PICKS- (associated press) eagles mcnabb out for year.
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was carted off the field with a right knee injury early in the second quarter of Philadelphia`s game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Without McNabb the Eagles lost 31-13 and failed to cover as 13-point favorites.
McNabb was rolling to his right near the Tennessee sideline and was bumped out of bounds by Kyle Vanden Bosch after throwing an incomplete pass. He grabbed his leg and was immediately tended to by trainers. There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury. He was replaced in the lineup by Jeff Garcia.
McNabb, a five-time Pro Bowler, came into the game tied with Peyton Manning for the league lead with 18 touchdown passes and was second in the league with 2,569 yards passing.
McNabb had surgery for a sports hernia and missed the final seven games last season when the Eagles finished 5-11 a year after going to the Super Bowl. McNabb also sat out the final six regular-season games of the 2002 season with a broken ankle before returning for the playoffs.
The Eagles were 2-5 with Mike McMahon filling in for McNabb last year and went 5-1 with Koy Detmer and A.J. Feeley starting the last six games in `02.
McNabb was 6-for-13 for 78 yards and threw an interception in the end zone before leaving the game.
NFL PICKS- (associated press): jacksonville's darius breaks leg against giants.
The Jacksonville Jaguars` injury-depleted defense suffered another setback Monday night when safety Donovin Darius broke his right leg against the New York Giants and was lost for the season.
It`s the second consecutive season that Darius` season ended early. He missed most of last year after tearing a ligament in his left knee.
Darius fell to the ground and winced in pain during a 13-yard screen pass from Eli Manning to Tiki Barber in the first quarter. Darius appeared to have his leg rolled over on the play.
He yelled toward the Giants offensive players as he was helped off the field. He was carted to the locker room for X-rays, and coach Jack Del Rio confirmed the injury after Jacksonville`s 26-10 victory.
The Jags entered the game as 4-point favorites and they played under the 38-point total.
The Jaguars already were playing without two defensive starters. Linebacker Mike Peterson and defensive end Reggie Hayward are two of eight defensive players on injured reserve.
Peterson, the team`s top tackler the last three seasons, tore a pectoral muscle last month. Hayward, who led the team with 8 1/2 sacks and 59 quarterback pressures last season, ruptured an Achilles` tendon in the season opener.
FREE NFL PICKS (associated press) 49ers hot but not thinking playoffs just yet.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Just three weeks ago, the thought of the San Francisco 49ers making a playoff run seemed about as crazy as the idea this moribund club could ever win three straight games. Or that one of the NFL`s worst defenses could ever stop anybody.
None of it seems so crazy now.
The Niners already have done the improbable with their first three-game winning streak in four years, beating the Seattle Seahawks 20-14 Sunday to move within one game of first place in the NFC West.
Many possibilities have opened up for a rapidly improving club that fell behind 41-0 to the Chicago Bears only three weeks earlier. But coach Mike Nolan is content to keep the playoffs as a distant, fantastical topic.
After Frank Gore rushed for a franchise-record 212 yards and the 49ers` defense finished off the Seahawks with three stops in the final 4 1/2 minutes, Nolan had no interest in looking ahead to January. He`s not even sure this same 49ers (5-5) will show up for Sunday`s road game against the St. Louis Rams, where the Niners are 6-point underdogs.
``I`m not there yet,`` said Nolan, who wore a suit and tie on the sideline in a nod to great coaches of the past. ``Our goal starting out this season was not just to win five games. We`ve won five, but that`s not our goal. ... We talk about streaks. We`ve got a three-game streak, and we need to build on that.``
The 49ers had no trouble remaining humble after vaulting into the back end of the NFC playoff chase. This team still remembers blowout losses to Philadelphia, Kansas City, San Diego and Chicago earlier in the season - losses that seemed to signal a fourth straight losing campaign.
But to the surprise of everyone outside the 49ers` locker room, the team`s months of hard work have abruptly paid off with wins over Minnesota, Detroit and Seattle. San Francisco is at .500 at the latest point in a season since 2003, and could match its win total for the last two seasons combined with one more victory.
``We didn`t start right, but we had high expectations before the season,`` left tackle Jonas Jennings said. ``Our bar is set high. We still have some climbing to do. We`re only at .500. There`s still a long way we can go.``
The defense that floundered in the 49ers` big losses has made two significant personnel changes - adding linebacker Brandon Moore and safety Keith Lewis to the starting lineup - and amped up its aggressiveness. San Francisco has allowed just 30 points in its last 3 1/2 games since that Chicago debacle, holding Seattle to 303 yards and a scoreless first half.
Meanwhile, Gore`s emergence as an elite running back in his first season as a starter has improved everything about the 49ers` offense.
Nolan has handed several game balls to Gore after recent victories, but the running back keeps giving them away to his offensive linemen. He had good reason to do so after the best game of his career: Gore spent most of the day running behind Larry Allen and Jennings, the veteran free-agent signees on the left side of the line.
``It`s just fun to be playing when the team is flowing like that,`` Jennings said. ``There`s nonverbal communication between me and Larry. We know what`s going to happen. We can run on anybody. That`s just part of our formula, and we believe in Frank.``
The 49ers, who had the day off from meetings for the third straight Monday, follow their coach`s lead when contemplating the postseason. They`re more eager to focus on the positive direction of the last three weeks while hoping this ride isn`t over yet.
``We failed in some adverse situations earlier in the season, but we learned from that experience,`` said Moore, who has led the team in tackles in each of his three starts. ``Three wins together is something we haven`t had in a very long time. We haven`t been where we could even think about being among the division leaders. We`re coming together, and I don`t see it slowing down.``
FREE NFL PICKS - (associated press): saints rookie reciever listed day to day.
New Orleans Saints star rookie receiver Marques Colston was listed as day-to-day Monday with a sprained left ankle sustained in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
``We`ll treat it and see how much pressure he can put on it,`` Saints coach Sean Payton said. ``It`s just a matter how much weight it can support and how quickly he can come back off of it. Each day we`ll get an idea maybe a little bit of his progress.``
X-rays and an MRI exam were negative, Payton said.
Early in the Saints` first offensive series Sunday, Colston was blocking for running back Deuce McAllister when he was bowled over from behind by several tacklers.
The Saints (6-4), tied for first place with Carolina in the NFC South, are at Atlanta (5-5) on Sunday.
Oddsmakers have Atlanta listed as a 3-point home favorite. The total is set at 47.
Colston, a seventh-round draft choice from Hofstra, had 54 catches for a league-leading 869 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns through the Saints` first nine games. With no catches Sunday, he fell to fifth in receiving yards.
FREE NFL PICKS- (associated press): hasselback set to return for seahawks.
Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be following league MVP Shaun Alexander out of the training room and back into the Seattle Seahawks` offense this week.
That alone could cool the possibility of another Mike Holmgren postgame eruption.
Seattle`s perfectionist coach ripped into his sloppy, undisciplined players so fiercely following a 20-14 loss at the San Francisco 49ers that made the NFC West a race again, he was home Sunday night regretting it. And when he met with his players Monday morning, he apologized for it.
Holmgren has lit into his uneven team (6-4) before this season. But by all accounts, this one topped all those.
Holmgren`s anger centered on his belief his players underestimated the 49ers (5-5).
``It was bad,`` Holmgren said. ``I don`t like doing that, I really don`t. And I said some things I wasn`t too proud of. In essence, I said (Monday), `I`m not going to do that again with you guys.`
``But it was a little grim in there.``
Oddsmakers have not yet released on line on the Seahawks Week 12 Monday night game against the Green Bay Packers.
Backup Seneca Wallace had played well in his first three NFL starts while Hasselbeck recovered from a sprained knee. But he threw three interceptions Sunday. Two led to 10 San Francisco points. The third ended Seattle`s last legitimate chance to win the game with 1:38 left - immediately after Frank Gore fumbled to give the Seahawks renewed hope.
The defense repeatedly missed tackles and was out of position, part of a season-long problem and part of the reason Gore romped for a 49ers-record 212 yards on 24 carries.
``We played horribly. We deserved it,`` end Grant Wistrom said of Holmgren`s airing out.
Was the outburst from normally conscientious - albeit emotional - Holmgren a surprise?
``I was surprised when he came to apologize to us, to be honest,`` Wistrom said. ``He didn`t say anything that was out of line or wasn`t warranted.``
Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu also thought Holmgren was right on.
``I felt it was necessary,`` Tatupu said. ``You look at the film. He saw exactly what we saw. He had every reason to do that.``
Now that Holmgren has said his peace, the Seahawks can finish piecing back together their offense.
They will welcome back Hasselbeck for the first time since he sprained his knee Oct. 22, and Pro Bowl center Robbie Tobeck against the Green Bay Packers next Monday night. Tobeck missed Sunday`s game with the remnants of a nasty flu.
And Holmgren is ``very optimistic`` Bobby Engram, the team`s leading receiver last season, will be back. He`s missed six games with a thyroid condition.
The exception to getting the entire offense back together could be starting right tackle Sean Locklear. He has had a badly sprained ankle and has missed the last four games.
``The positive part is we still lead our division,`` Holmgren said after discussing all that went wrong in San Francisco. ``We control our own destiny ... And I think getting our guys back will give us a little boost.``
But how quick of a boost?
There is a widespread belief that with Hasselbeck starting with Alexander on Monday night, Seattle will instantly resemble the team that finished last season in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks are 3-0 with both players starting this season.
Alexander returned Sunday after a seven-week absence with a broken foot, but gained only 37 yards on 17 carries. He acknowledged feeling tentative making cuts and reading blocks in the first half. Late in the game, he was stopped on a fourth-and-1 behind All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones.
Alexander felt no debilitating soreness Monday and will start again against Green Bay.
``There is some time (to getting back to full production from the returnees),`` Holmgren said. ``It can`t take too long, because we only have six games left in the regular season. But in Shaun`s case, he`s going to be better this week than he was.
``They haven`t played any football. They`ve been in the training room. So to think automatically the light goes on - bang, you`re shooting lights out again - that`s probably a little bit of a stretch.
``But I do expect a surge.``
Hasselbeck, who dressed as the emergency third quarterback Sunday, tested his knee Monday in drills simulating avoiding pass rushers.
``It seems like it`s getting better every day,`` he said.
He also said Sunday`s loss doesn`t change the Seahawks` season.
``Absolutely, all our goals are there,`` Hasselbeck said. ``But we`ve got to play a lot better. Me coming back or a few guys coming back, that`s not going to solve the problem if we don`t all play better.
``It doesn`t look like us out there.``
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NFL FREE PICKS- (associated press) : packers backup qb breaks foot in loss.
The Green Bay Packers lost a quarterback for the season on Monday. It wasn`t Brett Favre.
Aaron Rodgers broke his left foot during Sunday`s game against New England and is out for the rest of 2006, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. Rodgers had replaced Favre, who hurt his elbow earlier in the game.
Rodgers will need surgery. He broke his foot scrambling in the third quarter, but played the rest of the game, finishing 4-of-12 for 32 yards.
``On a personal level, you feel terrible for him, because the first thing you think about is here`s a guy who has been here since March 20, he`s been here every day going through the quarterback school, getting ready to potentially be the starter for our football team,`` McCarthy said. ``He finally gets the opportunity to play and that happens to him.``
Favre, starting his 251st game including playoffs, injured a nerve in his elbow after getting sacked just before halftime in the Packers` 35-0 loss. He couldn`t muster enough strength to adequately grip the football for the rest of the game.
McCarthy said Monday that Favre has most of the strength back in his elbow, but he wasn`t ready to say the three-time MVP would practice this week.
``I think his elbow is going to be fine,`` the coach said. ``He`s been in for treatment for both the elbow and the groin and we`ll re-evaluate him Wednesday, but he doesn`t seem very concerned about it.``
The team`s doctors were comfortable with Favre`s ability to return for next Monday night`s game against Seattle because of the quarterback`s demeanor, McCarthy said.
``He`s not very worried about it, which to them is a clear indication because he`s been through this so long. They trust his judgment based on their history with him,`` he said.
Oddsmakers have not released a line for this game.
The Packers` No. 3 quarterback is rookie Ingle Martin, who was drafted in the fifth round. McCarthy said the team could elevate Martin or look for a more experienced quarterback to back up Favre.
``We`re looking at every scenario right now,`` he said.
Rodgers, selected with the 24th pick of last year`s draft, was sacked three times in his first extensive action since he relieved Favre last year in a 48-3 loss to Baltimore. |
