Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Week 12 of the 2011 season…
There’s still work to be done by Gary Kubiak and company but his team owns a two-game lead in the AFC South and has won all 3 of its divisional games to date this season. This week, Houston travels to Jacksonville looking for the sweep and while there’s lots of talk about Wade Phillips’ defense, it should be noted that the Texans have scored 132 points in their last 4 games (all wins), which is in stark contrast to the Jaguars, who have totaled 125 points in 10 games this season. A win would also ensure Houston of tying its best win total within the division, when they went 4-2 in 2004…
No pun intended, but Lovie Smith’s team got a bad break with the loss of QB Jay Cutler (thumb), who was injured in last Sunday’s 31-20 win over the Chargers–the team’s fifth straight victory following a 2-3 start. Enter backup QB Caleb Hanie, who got some playing time in last season’s NFC Championship Game when Cutler went down as well. As was the case with their starter, protecting the quarterback has become a priority in the Windy City, something Mike Martz has been able to do via the running game and an improving offensive line. The Bears have allowed 9 sacks in their last 7 games after giving up 14 sacks in their first 3 games this season. But this team will get a big test from a Raiders’ team that has totaled 28 sacks in their first 10 games in 2011…
From Cinderella story to stubbing their toes, it’s been a long three-week stretch since Chan Gailey’s team headed north of the border last month. Since that time, the Bills have lost 3 straight games by combined score of 106-26 since defeating the Redskins, 23-0, in Toronto in Week 8. Now Buffalo (minus standout RB Fred Jackson) heads slightly south to face the angry Jets, losers of 2 straight but winners of their last 4 games in this series by a combined count of 122-45…
Although it’s not at the rate of last season, hanging onto the football continues to be a sore spot for Tom Coughlin and company. In last week’s home loss to the Eagles, QB Eli Manning threw an interception and late in the fourth quarter on the potential game-tying drive, was sacked and fumbled away the football. All told, the Giants have now committed 57 turnovers in their last 26 games, 2-plus in 3 straight games and 16 of those contests dating back to the start of 2010. But perhaps the G-Men get a break this Monday night at the Superdome as the Saints have forced only 9 turnovers in 10 outings this season…
Over the last 2 seasons, the Patriots’ offense has taken on a different look as QB Tom Brady continues to utilize WR Wes Welker but is becoming even more dependent on a pair of talented second-year tight ends in Aaron Hernandez and TE Rob Gronkowski, who has totaled 20 catches for 310 yards and 5 touchdowns in his last 3 games, scoring at least 1 TD in each of those contests. Since the start of 2010, Brady has thrown for 61 scores in 26 games, 27 to wide receivers, 1 to a running back and a gaudy 33 to tight ends, including 20 to the talented Gronkowksi, who has 10 TD receptions this year for the second time in as many seasons…
