THE ATL REPORT

FSH: THE ATL REPORT
October, 4th, 2008 11:43pm PST

THIS WEEK AROUND THE LEAGUE



NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE


ARIZONA
The Cardinals will be without WR Anquan Boldin on Sunday. Boldin underwent surgery to repair his fractured sinus and the team is hopeful he can return by Week 6. The teams number three receiver Steve Breaston will move into the starting position this Sunday against the Bills.

ATLANTA
The Falcons RB Michael Turner leads the NFL in rushing with 422 yards this season. This week the Falcon's rusher will have a favorable matchup on the road to facing the NFL's 26th ranked run defense (Green Bay). The Packers are allowing 157.8 yards rushing per game and 5.2 yards/carry this season.

CAROLINA
Last week Panther's quarterback Jake Delhomme had his best passing day of the season completing 20 of 29 passes for 294 yards with two touchdowns. For the season, Delhomme has completed 60% of his passes and thrown 3 touchdowns to only one pick. On Sunday he faces the Chiefs 14th ranked pass defense that has recorded only 3 sacks this season (tied for 29th).

CHICAGO
With WR Brandon Lloyd ruled OUT for Sunday and WR Marty Booker likely a game-time decision, the Bears WR/KR specialist Devin Hester could be elevated into the starting line-up and play a more prominent role in the offense.

DALLAS
The Cowboys are expected to get back to the running game quite a bit more this week. Last Sunday in their loss to the Redskins, RB Marion Barber had only 8 carries while rookie RB Felix Jones did not see any touches. This week against the Bengal's 28th ranked run defense (allowing 164 yds/game) the Boys will undoubtedly focus more on the run and get both Barber and Jones more involved with the offense.

DETROIT
According to the Lions Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto, the team will try to pick up the passing attack in week 5. Colletto is not throwing in the towel, but the team has not been effective on the ground in three games this season and has often found themselves falling behind early. The OC would like to open things up with more multiple receiver sets in hopes of manufacturing points faster.

GREEN BAY
The latest on QB Aaron Rodgers' status for Sunday; it appears that the chances of Rodgers playing Sunday look shaky at best according to Packernews.com. If Rodgers sits, back up rookie quarterback Mat Flynn would get the start.

MINNESOTA
It looks like the Vikings who play the New Orleans Saints on Monday night could be without LB EJ Henderson, who is doubtful and WR Bernard Berrian, who was just added to the injury reports on Friday. The good news is left tackle Bryant McKinnie will return with the team from his four game suspension.

NEW ORLEANS
The Saints, who will be facing the Minnesota Vikings and RB Adrian Peterson on Monday, will be without DT Sedrick Ellis. Ellis has started all four of the team's games so far this season. His absence will be a huge loss to a defense that faces a tough matchup with the Vikings Peterson.

NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants are returning from their bye week with the NFL's 4th ranked defense overall. In three games this season the Giant's defense has recorded 13 sacks (tied 4th in the NFL) and has allowed only 1 rushing touchdown this season (tied for 3rd in NFL).

PHILADELPHIA
The Eagles RB Brian Westbrook returned to practice on Friday and was a full participant. While this is a good sign for Eagles fans, Westbrook remains questionable for Sunday. It appears that this could be a game-time decision with the likelihood of Westbrook actually returning to the field this week. If Westbrook does not make it back, then RB Correll Buckhalter would once again start in his place.

ST. LOUIS
The Rams will enjoy their week off to try and regroup and improve their struggling offense. The Rams offense in total yards ranks 30th overall in the league and their 43 points scored this season ranks last.

SAN FRANCISCO
The Niners new offense has not been a friend to third-year tight end Vernon Davis. In four starts this season, Davis has only recorded 5 catches for 87 yards, and last week against the Saints he had just one catch.

SEATTLE
The Seahawks receivers Deion Branch and Bobby Engram will return to the field this Sunday against the Giants. According to head coach Mike Holmgren, the hope is both receivers can play half the number of offensive plays called this Sunday.

TAMPA BAY
The Buccaneers WR Galloway continues to struggle with his foot injuries this season. Already ruled out for week 5, Galloway did not make the trip to Denver with the team for Sunday's game. There is timeline for Galloway's expected return.

WASHINGTON
The Redskins already without DE Jason Taylor, could be missing CB Shawn Springs from the line up on Sunday in their tilt with the Philadelphia Eagles. Springs sat out of practice on Friday, but head coach Jim Zorn has not ruled him out for week 5.


AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE


BALTIMORE
Reports out of the Raven's camp indicate that injured running back Willis McGahee could miss Sunday's matchup with the Titans. McGahee is listed as questionable and if he sits, RB LeRon McClain would start with rookie RB Ray Rice rotating at tailback.

BUFFALO
The Bills running back Marshawn Lynch has not had a fantastic start this season running the ball, only gaining 275 yards rushing this season. His 3.5 yards per carry ranks last among the top 15 rushers in the NFL, but his 4 rushing touchdowns have him ranked among the elite.

CINCINNATI
The Bengals have activated WR Chris Henry for this weekend's tilt with the Dallas Cowboys. In order to make room on the roster, the team released RB Kenny Watson. The team also signed free-agent RB Cedric Benson earlier in the week.

CLEVELAND
Last week the Browns were finally able to secure their first win, but they continue to struggle on offense and head into their bye week as the 2nd worst scoring offense in the NFL (11.5 pts/game). Both the running game (ranked 27th) and the pass (32nd) have been anemic this season, with QB Derek Anderson carrying a lot of weight. Anderson has struggled this season throwing only 3 touchdowns, while being intercepted 6 times.

DENVER
The Broncos WR Brandon Marshall aka "Optimus-Prime," leads all receivers in the NFL with 47 touches this season (in only 3 games played). In those games he's caught 31 passes (tied for NFL lead) for 398 receiving yards (4th in the NFL) and scored three touchdowns (tied for 5th). Prior to the start of the 2008 season, Marshall had set some lofty goals planning on 140 receptions, and he's well on his way.

HOUSTON
Last week QB Matt Schaub finally had a break out game, passing for 307 yards and throwing 3 touchdowns. Heading into Sunday the Texans will like to see their big time receiver Andre Johnson break out and get going early. So far the receiver has been in a little stall with only 15 catches on the year and no touchdowns.

INDIANAPOLIS
The Colts QB Peyton Manning comes off the bye ready to face a team (Texans) that he has averaged nearly 300 yards passing and thrown 10 touchdowns in his last four meetings. In three of those contests he has thrown 3 scores and twice he has passed for over 300 yards, not to mention Indy is 3-1 in those games.

JACKSONVILLE
The Jaguars defense ranked 18th overall will look to get healthy and make plays against a Steeler offense that has struggled to protect their quarterback. In four games this season the Jags have only reached the quarterback 5 times, but will matchup against an offensive line that has allowed 16 sacks.

KANSAS CITY
In his last two starts the Chiefs star RB Larry Johnson has rushed for 319 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. He has started to look more like the LJ we remember from 2006, when he ran for 1,789 yards (2nd in the NFL behind LT). This week the Chiefs will be on the road to face the Carolina Panthers, ranked 19th against the run.

MIAMI
Through three weeks of action RBs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have split the load in the backfield. Williams has 37 carries for 150 yards rushing, while Brown has carried the ball 34 times for 161 yards. In the passing game, Brown has caught 6 passes for 56 yards, and Williams has caught 7 passes for 37 yards. The big difference between the two backs, Brown has 5 rushing touchdowns and Williams none.

OAKLAND
The Raiders head into their bye week with one of the leagues worst passing offenses (ranked 27th). The good news for the Raider nation is in week 4 QB Jamarcus Russell finally played well throwing the ball for 277 yards and a score. With the week of rest, the Raiders 5th ranked rushing offense (led by McFadden, Bush, & Fargas) will be able to get healthy and resume its productive ways.

PITTSBURGH
The Steelers are without RB Willie Parker this Sunday and with rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall just being added to the injured reserve, back-up runner Mewelde Moore will make the start against the Jaguars. Recently signed RB Najeh Davenport could also see action on Sunday.

NEW ENGLAND
The Patriots return to action this week and both QB Matt Cassell and WR Randy Moss hope to find some semblance of chemistry. In their first two full games together, the two have only hooked up 6 times for 47 yards with no touchdowns. Facing the Niners 19th ranked pass defense on Sunday, these two will look to change their luck.

NEW YORK JETS
Following his career day passing last Sunday when he threw six touchdowns, the Jets quarterback Brett Favre sits atop the NFL's passing elite with a 110.8 passer rating (best in NFL). Favre has completed 70% of his passes this season (2nd in the league), and he also leads all passers with 12 touchdowns.

SAN DIEGO
The Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers is having one of his best starts of his career. Through the teams first four games, Rivers has thrown for 1,024 yards and tossed 10 touchdowns (2nd in NFL). Rivers' passer rating of 109.8 ranks 2nd and his 9.3 yards per pass is best in the league.

TENNESSEE
The Titans pass defense has recorded 15 sacks (tied for 2nd in NFL) and 8 interceptions (tied for most) this season. They are lead by DL Albert Haynesworth who has 5 sacks and DB Cortland Finnegan who has 4 picks through 4 games.


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